So, the squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan is out. And if you were expecting to see the usual suspects, you might want to sit down for this.
Let's get the biggest talking point out of the way upfront: Babar Azam is not in the squad.
Yes, you read that right. Pakistan's former captain and one of the best batters of this generation has been left out. And he's not alone. Also missing from the lineup are Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan, and even the current white-ball captain, Salman Ali Agha.
That's a lot of star power staying home.
Instead, Pakistan has decided to go bold. Young, fresh, and a little bit unpredictable.
A New Face in Charge
Leading the team will be Sahibzada Farhan. You probably remember him from the recent T20 World Cup, where he was absolutely unstoppable – finishing as the tournament's top scorer with 383 runs. He's never captained Pakistan in white-ball cricket before, but the selectors are clearly betting on his form and temperament.
Helping him out as vice-captain is Abdul Samad. He's played a handful of T20Is, though his last appearance came over a year ago.
Some Brand New Names
Here's where it gets exciting. Four players are waiting for their first T20I caps:
Akif Javed
Ali Raza
Maaz Sadaqat
Saad Masood
That's right – they could be making their national team debuts at a multi-sport event in Japan. No pressure, right?
The Full Squad at a Glance
Here's everyone heading to Aichi-Nagoya:
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
Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Why the Shake-Up?
The Asian Games run from late September to early October, and while medals are always the goal, this feels like something bigger. Pakistan is clearly looking to build depth. With T20 cricket making its way back into the Olympics for LA 2028, giving young players a taste of high-pressure tournaments now makes a lot of sense.
Sure, leaving out big names will always get people talking. But for fans who've been asking for fresh blood, this is exactly what they wanted. Time to see what the next generation can do.
What to Watch For
Keep your eyes on Sahibzada Farhan at the top of the order. He's in the form of his life.
The bowling attack has some unknown quantities, which could be a weakness – or a secret weapon.
Four potential debutants means there's genuine excitement and mystery around this squad.
Will they win a medal? Hard to say. Will they be fun to watch? Almost certainly.
One thing is for sure: the crowds in Aichi-Nagoya are about to see a Pakistan team that looks very different from what they're used to. And somewhere in that squad, a future star might just be getting their first real moment in the sun.