Sahibzada Farhan will lead Pakistan’s men’s team at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4. The 30-year-old batter has featured in 46 T20 Internationals for Pakistan, accumulating 1,305 runs that include two centuries and ten half-centuries. Farhan was the leading scorer at the 2026 T20 World Cup with 383 runs at an average of 76.60, establishing himself as a key player in Pakistan’s white-ball setup. This will be his first captaincy appointment in Pakistan’s white-ball cricket.
The Asian Games squad includes four uncapped players: Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Maaz Sadaqat and Saad Masood, all yet to make their T20I debuts. Several high-profile names, including regular captain Salman Ali Agha, Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan, were not selected for the tournament. Abdul Samad, who has played five T20Is for Pakistan, was named vice-captain alongside Farhan’s appointment as captain. The men’s cricket event will commence on September 24, with medal matches played on October 3.
“It is not like the players who have been selected for the Asian Games are inexperienced. They have all played international cricket [or] come into the team after proving themselves in domestic cricket and the PSL. I have a lot of confidence in these players,” Farhan was quoted as saying by Cricinfo.
Pakistan’s preparation for the tournament included a focused four-day pre-departure camp in Karachi where the squad worked on specific skills and match situations. The team replicated the conditions expected at the Asian Games venue and played additional scenario matches to build familiarity with spin-heavy pitches. Farhan explained the rationale behind the intensive preparation schedule.
Sahibzada Farhan to captain Pakistan in Asian Games 2026
“We have tried to replicate the conditions which we expect to encounter in the Asian Games and played spin more. We have had two scenario matches as well and the players are looking in good shape … We will not have much time to prepare when we reach Japan so we have put in a lot of effort in this four-day camp so we are well-prepared before we land there,” Farhan added.
Farhan has worked on his own technical adjustments during the camp, particularly against spin bowling. The captain acknowledged his personal batting adjustments and his approach to leading by example in the squad.
“I don’t often play sweeps or reverse sweeps, but I have worked on those shots in this camp,” Farhan concluded.
