In a bold move signaling a new era for Pakistan’s T20 International cricket, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday, October 5, 2026, officially named Sahibzada Farhan as the new captain for the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka.
The appointment sees the 30-year-old right-handed batter (born March 6, 1996) take over from Salman Ali Agha, who has been excluded from the T20I squad following Pakistan’s underwhelming campaigns in the recent Asia Cup and T20 World Cup 2026.
The shake-up also sees prominent figures like Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi rested from the T20I squad, though both are retained for the subsequent ODI tri-series involving England and Sri Lanka. Shaheen Afridi will continue to lead the ODI side.
Sahibzada Farhan’s Rise to Leadership
Sahibzada Farhan’s elevation to the captaincy comes on the back of impressive recent performances and leadership stints. He recently guided Pakistan to a silver medal at the Asian Games 2026, where they narrowly lost to arch-rivals India in the final. Furthermore, Farhan was the leading run-scorer in the 2026 T20 World Cup, showcasing his potent form with the bat, and notably became the first player to score two centuries in a single T20 World Cup. His T20I career statistics, as of October 5, 2026, include 1,305 runs from 46 matches at an average of 30.34, featuring two centuries and ten half-centuries, with a top score of 100 not out.
This marks a significant shift in strategy for Pakistan as they look to build a squad for the T20 World Cup 2028, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. Former captain Salman Ali Agha, under whom Pakistan won 31 of 50 T20Is, failed to lead the team to the semi-finals in the 2026 T20 World Cup, prompting the leadership change.
Squad Additions and Notable Absentees
The T20I squad for the Sri Lanka series also features fresh talent, with all-rounder Razaullah earning a maiden white-ball call-up after his impactful Test debut against England last month, on September 9, 2026. Mohammad Imran Randhawa also receives his first T20I call-up, having made his Test debut against England on the same date. Fast bowler Naseem Shah makes a return to the T20I side, having last played the format against Sri Lanka in February 2026.
Pakistan T20I Squad:
- Sahibzada Farhan (captain)
- Abdul Samad
- Abrar Ahmed
- Arafat Minhas
- Fakhar Zaman
- Hasan Nawaz
- Muhammad Imran Randhawa
- Khawaja Nafay (wicketkeeper)
- Maaz Sadaqat
- Naseem Shah
- Razaullah
- Saim Ayub
- Mohammad Salman Mirza
- Shadab Khan
- Sufiyan Moqim
Series Schedule
The three-match T20I series will be entirely hosted at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
| Match | Date | Day | Time (PKT) | Time (UTC) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | October 9, 2026 | Friday | 8:00 PM | 3:00 PM | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium |
| 2nd T20I | October 11, 2026 | Sunday | 8:00 PM | 3:00 PM | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium |
| 3rd T20I | October 13, 2026 | Tuesday | 8:00 PM | 3:00 PM | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium |
All matches are scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM Pakistan Standard Time (PKT). Details regarding television broadcast channels and streaming platforms by region were not explicitly available in the recent announcements.
This significant overhaul in Pakistan’s T20I leadership and squad composition highlights the PCB’s intent to revitalize the team’s performance and prepare for future challenges, starting with the upcoming series against Sri Lanka.