Pakistan Squad Heads to Japan for Men’s T20 Cricket Competition
Pakistan’s men’s cricket team has departed for Japan to participate in the men’s T20 cricket competition at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026. The Pakistan squad left Karachi after completing a four-day preparation camp at the Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Centre and is now set to begin its Asian Games campaign in Japan.
The men’s cricket competition officially began on September 24 at Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi Prefecture, with Pakistan entering the tournament after the opening matches had already been played. Afghanistan started its campaign with a 48-run victory over Japan, while Malaysia defeated Hong Kong by eight wickets in the other opening-day fixture.
Pakistan will be represented by a relatively young squad, with Sahibzada Farhan named captain and Abdul Samad serving as vice-captain. The 15-member squad also includes Abrar Ahmed, Saim Ayub, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Arafat Minhas, Usman Khan and several players looking to make their mark on the international stage.
The squad was initially announced with Mohammad Salman Mirza included, but the fast bowler was ruled out after suffering a fracture to his left thumb. Mohammad Wasim Jnr was subsequently added to the squad as his replacement. The PCB said Salman is undergoing rehabilitation and is expected to regain full fitness in early October.
Farhan brings considerable T20 experience to the leadership role. The PCB has confirmed that the 30-year-old batter has played 46 T20Is for Pakistan, scoring 1,305 runs, including two centuries and 10 half-centuries. He also produced a record-breaking performance at the 2026 T20 World Cup, where his 383 runs were the most scored by any player in a single edition of the men’s tournament.
Pakistan’s men’s cricket event will progress through the group stage before the knockout matches. The medal matches are scheduled for October 3, giving the squad an opportunity to compete for an Asian Games medal while gaining valuable experience in international T20 cricket.
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