Pakistan will enter the men’s cricket competition at the 2026 Asian Games with Sahibzada Farhan as captain and a 15-member squad selected for the T20 tournament in Japan. The squad combines established Pakistan T20 internationals with emerging players, giving the national side an opportunity to develop its next group of white-ball players. Pakistan have also received a first-round bye and will begin their campaign in the quarter-finals on September 28.
Pakistan Asian Games Squad 2026
The Pakistan Cricket Board’s latest 15-member squad is led by Sahibzada Farhan. Abdul Samad has been named vice-captain, while Usman Khan is the wicketkeeper.
The updated squad is: Sahibzada Farhan (captain), Abdul Samad (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Arafat Minhas, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Saad Masood, Saim Ayub, Sufyan Moqim and Usman Khan.
The squad was changed shortly before Pakistan’s departure for Japan. Left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Salman Mirza was ruled out after suffering a fracture to his left thumb, and Mohammad Wasim Jnr was brought into the 15-member group as his replacement.
Sahibzada Farhan to Lead Pakistan
Sahibzada Farhan is the central figure in Pakistan’s Asian Games campaign. The 30-year-old batter was named captain when the original squad was announced in June.
According to the PCB, Farhan had played 46 T20 internationals for Pakistan at the time of his selection, scoring 1,305 runs. His international record included two centuries and 10 half-centuries.
Farhan’s role will extend beyond batting. As captain, he will be responsible for managing a relatively young squad through a tournament in which Pakistan’s opening match is already a knockout fixture.
Abdul Samad has been appointed vice-captain. The all-rounder had five T20 internationals to his name when the squad was originally announced, according to the PCB.
Young Players and Emerging Names
One of the most notable features of the Pakistan squad is the presence of players still building their international careers.
Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Maaz Sadaqat and Saad Masood were listed by the PCB as the four players in the original 15-member squad who had yet to represent Pakistan in T20 internationals.
Pakistan’s Bowling Options
Pakistan have several pace and spin options in the Asian Games squad.
Abrar Ahmed provides a specialist spin option, while Sufyan Moqim adds another left-arm spin choice. The pace group includes Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Ali Raza and Mohammad Wasim Jnr.
The change involving Salman Mirza means Wasim Jnr will be particularly important to Pakistan’s bowling plans. Wasim was added after Salman’s thumb injury, with the PCB saying Salman was undergoing rehabilitation and expected to regain complete fitness in the first week of October.
Pakistan Team Management
Mike Hesson is the head coach of the Pakistan Asian Games team. The support staff also includes bowling coach Ashley Noffke, fielding coach Mansoor Amjad, physiotherapist Muhammad Tahir, trainer Imran Ullah and analyst-cum-team operations coordinator Usman Hashmi.
Pakistan’s squad assembled in Karachi on September 20 for a pre-departure training camp before the team’s scheduled departure for Japan on September 24.
Pakistan’s Asian Games Campaign
Pakistan are one of four seeded teams in the men’s competition, alongside India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. These four teams receive a first-round bye and move directly into the quarter-finals.
Pakistan’s quarter-final is scheduled for September 28 against the runner-up from Group B. Hong Kong, Malaysia and Oman are in that group, meaning Pakistan’s first opponent will emerge from those preliminary matches.
The semi-finals are scheduled for October 1, followed by the bronze-medal match and final on October 3.
What to Expect From Team Pakistan
Pakistan’s squad has been assembled with a mixture of international experience and emerging talent. Farhan’s leadership, Saim Ayub’s batting, Sufyan Moqim spin and the pace options will be important components of the team’s campaign.
The first match will immediately carry knockout pressure because Pakistan enters the competition at the quarter-final stage rather than playing in the preliminary groups.
For Pakistan’s younger players, the Asian Games provides an opportunity to gain experience in international competition and demonstrate their readiness for larger assignments.
Pakistan’s Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket squad is led by Sahibzada Farhan and includes a blend of established T20 internationals and emerging players. The latest 15-member group features Mohammad Wasim Jnr after Mohammad Salman Mirza was ruled out with a thumb fracture.
Pakistan will begin its campaign in the quarter-finals on September 28. With a young squad and an experienced coaching staff, the tournament will provide an important competitive opportunity for players seeking to establish themselves in Pakistan’s T20 setup.
