Pakistan has named a 15-member cricket squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan — and the headline is who’s missing. Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan and regular T20 captain Salman Agha have all been left out, with Sahibzada Farhan handed the captaincy and Abdul Samad named vice-captain.
The full squad
- Sahibzada Farhan (captain)
- Abdul Samad (vice-captain)
- Abrar Ahmed
- Ahmed Daniyal
- Akif Javed
- Ali Raza
- Arafat Minhas
- Haider Ali
- Hasan Nawaz
- Maaz Sadaqat
- Mohammad Salman Mirza
- Saad Masood
- Saim Ayub
- Sufyan Moqim
- Usman Khan (wicket-keeper)
Four players — Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Maaz Sadaqat and Saad Masood — have never earned a T20I cap, underlining how much this squad leans toward fresh faces over the established core. At 30, Farhan is the most experienced name in the group and arrives on the back of finishing as the leading run-scorer at the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Tournament details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Host country | Japan |
| Games window | 19 September – 14 October 2026 |
| Cricket events begin | 24 September 2026 |
| Medal matches | 3 October 2026 |
| Format | T20 |
Why the big names are missing
The Pakistan Cricket Board has not given a detailed public explanation for excluding Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan and Salman Agha, describing the selection simply as a “fresh squad.” In practice, multi-sport events like the Asian Games sit outside the traditional bilateral and ICC calendar, and boards frequently use them to manage senior players’ workload, blood younger talent, and test bench strength ahead of bigger assignments — a pattern seen across several countries’ squad announcements for these Games.
The move also lands amid a broader churn in Pakistan’s white-ball leadership this year, with the T20 captaincy and squad composition both under scrutiny following results in the recent international season. Handing Farhan the Asian Games captaincy, separate from the regular T20I leadership, gives selectors a live audition for succession planning without disturbing the existing setup.
What it means for Pakistan’s cricket depth
- Bench strength gets tested. Uncapped players like Akif Javed and Maaz Sadaqat get a genuine international assignment rather than domestic cricket alone.
- Leadership pipeline widens. A second captaincy option beyond the regular T20I setup is now battle-tested at a multi-nation event.
- Senior players get rest. Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi’s absence frees a packed calendar window for recovery or franchise commitments, without an injury being cited.
Frequently asked questions
Who is captaining Pakistan at the 2026 Asian Games?
Sahibzada Farhan has been named captain, with Abdul Samad as vice-captain.
Why isn’t Babar Azam in the Asian Games squad?
The PCB has not detailed a specific reason, calling it a deliberately fresh squad. No injury has been cited for Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan or Salman Agha.
When does cricket start at the 2026 Asian Games?
Cricket events begin on 24 September 2026, with medal matches on 3 October, within the Games’ overall window of 19 September to 14 October 2026 in Japan.
Squad and schedule details as announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board and Asian Games organisers, current as of 16 August 2026. Squad composition can change before the tournament in case of injury or availability issues — check official PCB announcements for the latest list.
Related reading: Pakistan vs England Test series 2026
