No Babar or Shaheen: Farhan takes charge of Pakistan’s young Asian Games squad

Pakistan selectors have named Farhan as the new skipper in the squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, consisting of young players. The squad includes only 15 players, who are young and are not part of the white ball squad, which includes Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Salman Ali Agha and Shadab Khan.

Abdul Samad will act as vice-captain for the team, while Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Maaz Sadaqat and Saad Masood will be making their debut for Pakistan in the T20I format.

This selection reflects a new approach by Pakistan after some disappointing performances, especially in the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup.

PCB's squad build-up

As preparations get underway for the Asian Games men's cricket championship that starts from September 24, the PCB has chosen a young team as a strategy in giving more exposure to the young cricketers.

Among all, Farhan is among the most senior players at the age of 30. The top-order player has already participated in 46 T20Is scoring 1,305 runs along with two centuries and ten fifties. Moreover, he finished as the top run-scorer during the T20 World Cup 2026. However, he hasn't yet had the chance to captain Pakistan in the white-ball cricket format.

Abdul Samad has taken part in just five T20Is but his last appearance was in March 2025. On the other hand, he has played for Pakistan in ODIs recently in an ODI series against Australia.

Four players among the picked ones have yet not played any match in the T20 format for Pakistan despite their participation in the domestic leagues which includes Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Maaz Sadaqat and Saad Masood. According to a PCB statement, fourteen out of the fifteen chosen cricketers are currently enrolled in the National Cricket Academy's white-ball camp in Lahore.

Addition of young players in the squad

The youth nature of the squad also comes through with the inclusion of some new faces, as compared to experienced veterans such as Hasan Nawaz, who have been left out. Instead, the selectors have placed their trust in fresh players consisting Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haider Ali, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Saim Ayub and Sufyan Moqim.

The game of cricket has been played at the Asian Games on three separate occasions, namely in 2010, 2014 and 2022. Pakistan managed fourth place in the most recent event, which was conducted in 2023, and won one and lost two matches there. Now with a new squad making its way to the Aichi-Nagoya tournament, the PCB might just hope for the best.

Pakistan's squad for the Asian Games

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 and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper).

With the absence of experienced players like Babar and Shaheen, the PCB has chosen Farhan to lead the squad by accelerating with fresh youth players in the team drawn from the NCA white-ball camp, for the upcoming Asian Games tournament.

FAQs:

Q1: Why were Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi left out of Pakistan's Asian Games squad?

Ans: Pakistan opted for a young squad as part of its rebuilding strategy after recent tournament setbacks.

Q2: Who will captain Pakistan at the 2026 Asian Games?

Ans: Sahibzada Farhan has been appointed captain, with Abdul Samad as vice-captain.