Sahibzada Farhan to captain Pakistan at Asian Games 2026, PCB names 15-man squad
Synopsis
Pakistan have handed Sahibzada Farhan the Asian Games captaincy, naming a 15-man T20 squad for the Aichi-Nagoya Games with four uncapped players in the mix. The PCB is also running NCA White-Ball and Red-Ball camps for 49 players starting 15 June — a rare window of structured preparation before a continental medal is on the line.
Key Takeaways
Sahibzada Farhan named captain and Abdul Samad vice-captain of Pakistan's Asian Games 2026 squad.
Farhan has played 46 T20Is for Pakistan, scoring 1,305 runs with 2 centuries and 10 half-centuries .
Four players — Akif Javed , Ali Raza , Maaz Sadaqat , Saad Masood — are yet to earn a T20I cap.
14 of 15 squad members will attend the NCA White-Ball Camp in Lahore from 15–18 June .
Men's cricket tournament begins 24 September ; medal matches on 3 October at Korogi Athletic Park , Aichi.
A total of 49 players will participate across PCB's NCA Red-Ball and White-Ball camps.
Sahibzada Farhan has been named captain of Pakistan's cricket squad for the Asian Games 2026, scheduled from 19 September to 4 October in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the 15-man squad on Wednesday, 10 June, with Abdul Samad appointed as vice-captain.
Farhan's Credentials and Squad Composition
Farhan, 30, brings considerable T20 experience to the captaincy role, having featured in 46 T20 Internationals for Pakistan and accumulated 1,305 runs, including two centuries and 10 half-centuries. Vice-captain Abdul Samad has made five T20I appearances for Pakistan to date.
Notably, four players in the squad — Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Maaz Sadaqat, and Saad Masood — are yet to earn a T20I cap for Pakistan, giving the continental event the added dimension of a potential international debut platform.
NCA White-Ball Camp Ahead of the Tournament
Of the 15 players selected, 14 are part of the National Cricket Academy (NCA)'s White-Ball Camp, set to run in Lahore from Monday, 15 June to 18 June. The PCB confirmed that a total of 49 players will participate across the NCA's Red-Ball and White-Ball camps, designed to sharpen preparation for upcoming international and domestic commitments.
Players will train under National and NCA coaches alongside PCB Medical staff, with individual sessions also planned to address skill development and the fitness benchmarks required at the international level.
Format and Schedule at Aichi-Nagoya
The cricket competition at the Asian Games 2026 will be played in T20 format, featuring 10 teams at Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi Prefecture. The men's tournament gets underway on 24 September, with medal matches scheduled for 3 October.
Full Squad
Pakistan's 15-man squad for the Asian Games: Sahibzada Farhan (c), Abdul Samad (vc), 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 (wk).
With the NCA camps beginning next week and medal matches just over three months away, Pakistan's preparation for the continental showpiece is now firmly underway.
Point of View
Pakistan will be among the favourites, but continental T20 tournaments have a habit of producing upsets — and a squad carrying four debutants-in-waiting will need to find its combinations quickly.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who will captain Pakistan at the Asian Games 2026?
Sahibzada Farhan will captain Pakistan's cricket team at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The PCB announced the 15-man squad on 10 June, with Abdul Samad named vice-captain.
When does Pakistan's cricket competition begin at the Asian Games 2026?
The men's cricket tournament at the Asian Games 2026 begins on 24 September, with medal matches scheduled for 3 October at Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
Which players in Pakistan's Asian Games squad are uncapped in T20Is?
Four players in the squad — Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Maaz Sadaqat, and Saad Masood — have not yet played a T20 International for Pakistan. The Asian Games could serve as their debut platform.
What is the NCA White-Ball Camp and who is attending?
The NCA White-Ball Camp is a PCB-organised training programme running in Lahore from 15 to 18 June. Fourteen of the 15 Asian Games squad members are part of the camp, which focuses on skill development and international fitness standards under National and NCA coaches.
What format will cricket be played in at the Asian Games 2026?
Cricket at the Asian Games 2026 will be played in T20 format, featuring 10 teams competing at Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
