Sahibzada Farhan named Pakistan T20I captain as Salman Ali Agha dropped for SL series
Synopsis
Pakistan has overhauled its T20I leadership after a run of poor results — Salman Ali Agha is out as captain and out of the squad entirely, with Sahibzada Farhan handed the reins just days before a series against Sri Lanka begins in Rawalpindi. A T20 World Cup semifinal exit and an Asia Cup final loss to India sealed Salman's fate.
Key Takeaways
Sahibzada Farhan named Pakistan T20I captain for the three-match Sri Lanka series starting Friday in Rawalpindi .
Salman Ali Agha sacked as T20I captain and dropped from the T20I squad entirely; retained in the ODI tri-series squad.
Naseem Shah recalled to the T20I side after last playing in the T20 World Cup 2026 .
Razaullah earns maiden white-ball call-ups in both T20I and ODI squads.
Babar Azam absent from the T20I squad but included in the ODI tri-series squad.
Shaheen Shah Afridi leads the ODI side for the tri-series against Sri Lanka and England from 18 October ; Shaun Tait returns as bowling coach.
Sahibzada Farhan has been appointed captain of the Pakistan men's T20I team, replacing Salman Ali Agha, who has been removed from the captaincy and dropped from the squad altogether for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka beginning Friday in Rawalpindi. The Pakistan Cricket Board also announced squads for an ODI tri-series featuring Sri Lanka and England, with Shaheen Shah Afridi leading the one-day side.
Why Salman Was Removed
Pakistan's T20I performances under Salman Ali Agha had drawn increasing scrutiny. The team lost the Asia Cup final to India last year and, more critically, failed to reach the semifinals of the T20 World Cup 2026 — a result that appears to have been the decisive factor behind the selection committee's call. Salman has, however, been retained in the ODI squad for the tri-series that begins on 18 October in Rawalpindi, indicating the axe fell specifically on his T20I standing.
Sahibzada Farhan's Rise to the Captaincy
The new T20I skipper, Sahibzada Farhan, arrives on the back of a strong showing at the Asian Games, where he led Pakistan to the silver medal. They fell to India in the final, but Farhan's leadership credentials were considered sufficient to earn him the top job in the shortest format. His appointment also signals a generational recalibration in Pakistan's white-ball thinking.
Key Returns and New Faces
Fast bowler Naseem Shah has been recalled to the T20I side after last featuring in the T20 World Cup 2026. Razaullah, who played a pivotal role in Pakistan's third Test against England, has earned maiden white-ball call-ups in both squads. Former captain Babar Azam is absent from the T20I team but retains his place in the ODI squad for the tri-series.
Asian Games performers rewarded with selection include Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Arafat Minhas, and Sufiyan Moqim. Hasan Nawaz, who struck a commanding 96 against India in the Asiad final, has kept his place — his previous T20I appearance having come in November 2025, before the Aichi-Nagoya Games. Shaheen Afridi, notably, is not part of the T20I squad but leads the ODI team for the tri-series.
Shaun Tait's Return as Bowling Coach
Off the field, the series marks the return of Australian pacer-turned-coach Shaun Tait as Pakistan's bowling coach. Tait previously served in the role from February 2022 for approximately a year. His reappointment is seen as part of a broader reset of Pakistan's coaching and leadership structure ahead of a busy international calendar.
Full Squads
Pakistan T20I squad vs Sri Lanka: Sahibzada Farhan (capt), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Arafat Minhas, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Muhammad Imran Randhawa, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Maaz Sadaqat, Naseem Shah, Razaullah, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Shadab Khan, Sufiyan Moqim.
Pakistan ODI squad for tri-series (vs Sri Lanka and England): Shaheen Shah Afridi (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Razaullah, Saad Baig (wk), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Sufiyan Moqim.
How Farhan's captaincy shapes up against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi will be an early test of whether Pakistan's white-ball reset has the depth to match its ambition.
Point of View
Not a tactical one. Sahibzada Farhan's Asian Games silver does give him credibility, but leading a team in a continental multi-sport event is a very different test from a bilateral T20I series. The deeper question is whether this reshuffle is a genuine reset or a reflexive change that leaves the core batting and bowling issues unaddressed — particularly with Babar Azam still absent from the T20I fold and no clear explanation offered for that ongoing exclusion.
NationPress
5 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Salman Ali Agha removed as Pakistan T20I captain?
Salman Ali Agha was sacked as Pakistan's T20I captain following a string of poor results, including a loss in the Asia Cup final to India and failing to reach the semifinals of the T20 World Cup 2026. He has also been dropped from the T20I squad entirely, though he retains his place in Pakistan's ODI squad for the upcoming tri-series.
Who is the new Pakistan T20I captain?
Sahibzada Farhan is the new Pakistan T20I captain. He was appointed ahead of the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka beginning Friday in Rawalpindi, and recently led Pakistan to the silver medal at the Asian Games.
Is Babar Azam in Pakistan's squad for the Sri Lanka series?
Babar Azam is not part of Pakistan's T20I squad for the Sri Lanka series. He has, however, been included in the ODI squad for the tri-series featuring Sri Lanka and England, which begins on 18 October in Rawalpindi.
Who are the new faces in Pakistan's T20I squad?
Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Arafat Minhas, and Sufiyan Moqim have been picked after their performances at the Asian Games. Razaullah, who starred in the third Test against England, earns his maiden white-ball call-ups in both the T20I and ODI squads. Naseem Shah also returns to the T20I setup.
When does the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka T20I series start and where?
The three-match T20I series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka begins on Friday, 10 October 2026, in Rawalpindi. The ODI tri-series featuring Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and England is scheduled to start on 18 October, also in Rawalpindi.
