Pakistan’s white-ball squads for the upcoming Sri Lanka series have created confusion by not naming any vice-captains in either the T20I or ODI format. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the squads on October 5, confirming Sahibzada Farhan as the T20I captain and Shaheen Shah Afridi as the ODI captain, yet left the vice-captaincy positions unfilled in both teams.
The T20I series against Sri Lanka is scheduled for October 9, 11 and 13, while the ODI tri-series involving Sri Lanka and England begins on October 18. Despite the imminent start of both competitions, no official vice-captain has been designated for either squad. This absence of clarity has prompted scrutiny from former cricketer Basit Ali, who has directed his concerns at Aaqib Javed, the Pakistan Cricket Board official responsible for squad selection and team management decisions.
Basit Ali questions the absence of vice-captaincy clarity
“T20 and ODI ki team mai vice captain khoun hai aqib jawed sb (Who is the vice captain of the T20 and ODI teams, Aaqib Javed sir),” Basit Ali asked on social media, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the leadership hierarchy in Pakistan’s white-ball teams at a time when both squads are preparing for important international matches. His intervention underscores the need for clarity before the series commences.
Abdul Samad previously served as vice-captain during the Asian Games, providing recent precedent for the role. However, the PCB has not confirmed whether Samad or any other player will assume the vice-captaincy for the Sri Lanka series. The lack of a designated vice-captain can create uncertainty within a squad regarding chain of command and contingency planning.
With the T20I matches beginning within days of the squad announcement, the PCB faces pressure to clarify its leadership arrangements. The absence of a named vice-captain in either format remains unresolved as both teams prepare for their respective series against Sri Lanka and the tri-series involving England.
Pakistan won the Silver Medal at the 2026 Asian Games after losing to arch-rivals India in a high-scoring final in Nisshin, Japan.
