Pakistan Asian Games Squad Announced: Babar Azam, Shahzaib Khan, Salman Ali Aga Excluded, Sahibzada Farhan Appointed Captain The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially announced the 15-member squad for the 2026 Asian Games, with young talent taking center stage. The team, set to compete in the men’s cricket tournament from September 13 to October 4, 2026, at the Koryo Athletic Park in Japan’s Aichi Prefecture, will be captained by Sahibzada Farhan. This marks a significant shift from previous selections, as senior players like Babar Azam, Shahzaib Khan, and Salman Ali Aga have been omitted from the squad. The decision to exclude these established names has sparked discussions, with selectors emphasizing a focus on youth and emerging talent. Farhan, who previously captained Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2026, will lead the team, while Abdul Samad has been named vice-captain. The squad includes four uncapped players—Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Maj Sadat, and Saad Masood—who will compete in their first international T20 matches. These players will join the team for the National Cricket Academy (NCA) white-ball camp starting June 15 in Lahore, providing them with crucial preparation for the Games. The absence of Babar Azam, Shahzaib Khan, and Salman Ali Aga is notable, as all three were key figures in Pakistan’s recent T20 World Cup campaign. Babar, a former captain, and Shahzaib, a fast bowler, had been instrumental in the 2026 World Cup, but their exclusion from the Asian Games squad suggests a strategic move to prioritize younger players. Salman Ali Aga, who previously led the T20 team, was also left out, despite his experience in the format. Farhan’s appointment as captain is a testament to his performance in T20 cricket.#pakistan_cricket_board #sahibzada_farhan #2026_asian_games #abdul_samad #koryo_athletic_park
India Names Full-Strength T20I Squad for 2026 Asian Games Jasprit Bumrah has been included in India’s 15-player squad for the Men’s T20 cricket tournament at the 2026 Asian Games, set to take place in Japan from September 19 to October 4. The fast bowler, who was rested during India’s T20I tours of Ireland and England in June-July to prioritize One-Day International (ODI) preparations for the 2027 World Cup, will now compete in the Asian Games. His inclusion marks a shift in strategy, as the selectors have opted to field a fully loaded squad for the multi-nation event. Bumrah will replace Mohammed Siraj, who remains part of the T20I squads for the Ireland and England tours, while Prince Yadav, the 16th member of those squads, will not be part of the Asian Games contingent. The 2026 Asian Games men’s cricket competition will be played in the T20 format, with the tournament beginning on September 24 and concluding with the final on October 3. Ten teams—India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Japan, Nepal, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Oman—will compete for the gold medal. The preliminary qualifiers will run from September 24 to 26, followed by quarter-finals on September 28-29, semi-finals on October 1, and the bronze and gold medal matches on October 3. India’s participation in the event coincides with their three-ODI series against the West Indies from September 27 to October 3, with five T20Is scheduled from October 6. Newly appointed T20I captain Shreyas Iyer will lead the squad in Japan, with Tilak Varma serving as his deputy. The team includes a mix of experienced players and emerging talents, such as 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who will compete for a top-order slot alongside the regular top three of Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan.#india #jasprit_bumrah #shreyas_iyer #2026_asian_games #t20i_squad
