Cricket: PCB announces 15-member squad for Asian Games 2026 

Lahore (Web Desk): Pakistan has unveiled its men’s cricket squad for the Asian Games 2026, scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan from September 19 to October 4.

According to a statement issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday, Sahibzada Farhan will lead the side in the T20 International competition.

The men’s cricket event is set to begin on September 24, with all matches taking place at Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi Prefecture. The medal-deciding fixtures will be played on October 3 in the 10-team tournament.

Abdul Samad has been appointed vice-captain of the 15-member squad. Farhan, 30, has represented Pakistan in 46 T20Is, accumulating 1,305 runs that include two centuries and ten half-centuries.

The squad features four players who are yet to make their T20I debut for Pakistan: Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Maaz Sadaqat, and Saad Masood. In addition, 14 members of the squad are currently part of the National Cricket Academy’s white-ball training camp, which will begin in Lahore on June 15.

15-member squad:

The selected lineup comprises 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 wicketkeeper Usman Khan.

Support staff:

The team’s support structure includes head coach Mike Hesson, bowling coach Ashley Noffke, fielding coach Shane McDermott, along with physiotherapist Muhammad Tahir, trainer Imran Ullah, and analyst-cum-team operations coordinator Usman Hashmi.