The Pakistan cricket squad has been announced for the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka and the ODI tri-series involving England and Sri Lanka. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made a notable leadership change in the T20 format, naming Sahibzada Farhan as captain, while Shaheen Shah Afridi has been retained as the ODI captain.
Sahibzada Farhan to Lead T20 Team
The PCB has selected a 15-member squad for the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka. Sahibzada Farhan will lead the side in the short-format series, marking an important change in Pakistan’s T20 leadership.
The three T20 matches are scheduled to take place at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 9, October 11 and October 13. The series will give Pakistan an opportunity to assess its T20 combination ahead of future international assignments.
The T20 squad includes Sahibzada Farhan, Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Arafat Minhas, Fakhar Zaman, Hassan Nawaz, Muhammad Imran Randhawa and Khawaja Nafi. The squad also features Moaz Sadaqat, Naseem Shah, Razaullah, Saim Ayub, Muhammad Salman Mirza, Shadab Khan and Sufyan Muqim.
With a mixture of experienced players and younger names, the Pakistan cricket squad reflects the PCB’s plans for the upcoming T20 fixtures against Sri Lanka.
Shaheen Afridi Retained for ODIs
Shaheen Shah Afridi will continue to lead Pakistan in the ODI format. The PCB has announced a 16-member squad for the ODI tri-series featuring Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka.
The ODI competition will consist of seven matches, including the league games and the final. The opening three matches will be played in Rawalpindi, while the remaining league matches and the final will take place in Lahore.
The ODI squad includes Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Muhammad Ghazi Ghauri, Haris Rauf, Hassan Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Razaullah, Saad Baig, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan and Sufyan Muqim.
The decision to retain Shaheen as ODI captain provides continuity in the 50-over format, while the appointment of Farhan for T20Is gives the PCB a different leadership setup for the shorter format.
Pakistan to Face England and Sri Lanka
The ODI tri-series is expected to provide Pakistan with competitive preparation against two strong international teams. England and Sri Lanka will join Pakistan in the seven-match competition, with matches divided between Rawalpindi and Lahore.
The Pakistan cricket squad contains several established names, including Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah and Shadab Khan. At the same time, the inclusion of younger players gives the team management an opportunity to assess emerging talent at the international level.
The combination could also provide the coaching staff with more options when deciding the best playing XI for different conditions.
Coaching and Management Team
The PCB has also confirmed the management and coaching staff for the national team. Mike Hesson will serve as head coach, while Sean Tait has been appointed bowling coach. Michael Smith will work as batting coach and Mansoor Amjad will serve as fielding coach.
Naveed Akram Cheema will continue as team manager. Shafqat Shabbir has been appointed media manager for the Rawalpindi matches, while Syed Nazir Ahmed will handle media responsibilities in Lahore.
The board has also appointed Colonel Usman Anwari as security manager and Dr Wajid Ali Rifai as team doctor.
A New Chapter for Pakistan
The leadership changes make the upcoming fixtures particularly important for the Pakistan cricket squad. Farhan’s appointment as T20 captain will be closely followed, while Shaheen’s continued leadership in ODIs offers stability in the longer white-ball format.
With Sri Lanka arriving for the T20 series and England joining the ODI competition, Pakistan faces a busy schedule at home. The matches in Rawalpindi and Lahore will provide the national side with an opportunity to test its players, combinations and leadership arrangements ahead of future international challenges.
For Pakistan, the immediate focus will now be on building balanced playing XIs and making the most of home conditions across both formats.
