Pakistan squad for the Asian Games 2026 is a 15-member T20 side led by opener Sahibzada Farhan, with power-hitter Abdul Samad as vice-captain and Usman Khan as wicketkeeper. This young Pakistan team has reached the gold medal match against India on Saturday, 3 October 2026 at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan, after beating Bangladesh by six wickets in the semi-final.
In this article you will find the complete Pakistan cricket team squad for Asian Games 2026: how many players are in the team, who they are, each player’s role, the batters, all-rounders and bowlers, Pakistan’s road to the final, the probable playing XI against India, the final’s date and time in Pakistan, live streaming channels and answers to the most common questions.
Pakistan Squad Asian Games 2026 at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Team | Pakistan Men’s Cricket Team |
| Tournament | 20th Asian Games, Aichi-Nagoya 2026 (Men’s Cricket, T20 format) |
| Total players | 15 |
| Captain | Sahibzada Farhan |
| Vice-captain | Abdul Samad |
| Wicketkeeper | Usman Khan |
| Venue | Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, Aichi, Japan |
| Next match | Gold Medal Final vs India, Saturday 3 October 2026, 9:30 AM PKT |
How Many Players Are in the Pakistan Asian Games Squad?
Pakistan have named 15 players for the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket competition. The selectors went for a young, T20-focused group rather than the full senior national side. The squad has a strong mix of attacking batters, spin-bowling all-rounders and young fast bowlers. That balance is well suited to the slow, spin-friendly pitch at Korogi Sports Park.
Here is how the squad is made up by role:
- Batters: 4 (Sahibzada Farhan, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Abdul Samad)
- Wicketkeeper: 1 (Usman Khan)
- All-rounders: 4 (Saim Ayub, Maaz Sadaqat, Arafat Minhas, Saad Masood)
- Bowlers: 6 (Abrar Ahmed, Sufyan Moqim, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Ahmed Daniyal)
Pakistan Squad for Asian Games 2026: Full Player List
| # | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sahibzada Farhan (Captain) | Top-order batter (opener) |
| 2 | Abdul Samad (Vice-captain) | Middle-order batter / finisher |
| 3 | Abrar Ahmed | Spin bowler (mystery spinner) |
| 4 | Ahmed Daniyal | Fast bowler |
| 5 | Akif Javed | Left-arm fast bowler |
| 6 | Ali Raza | Fast bowler |
| 7 | Arafat Minhas | All-rounder (left-arm spin) |
| 8 | Haider Ali | Top-order batter |
| 9 | Hasan Nawaz | Top/middle-order batter |
| 10 | Maaz Sadaqat | All-rounder (left-handed batter, left-arm spin) |
| 11 | Mohammad Salman Mirza | Left-arm fast bowler |
| 12 | Saad Masood | All-rounder |
| 13 | Saim Ayub | All-rounder (left-handed opener, part-time spin) |
| 14 | Sufyan Moqim | Left-arm wrist spinner |
| 15 | Usman Khan (Wicketkeeper) | Wicketkeeper-batter |
Pakistan’s Road to the Asian Games 2026 Final
Quarter-final vs Hong Kong: washed out
Pakistan were seeded straight into the quarter-finals as an ICC Full Member. Their quarter-final against Hong Kong on 28 September was washed out without a ball being bowled. Pakistan went through to the semi-finals as the higher-ranked team.
Semi-final vs Bangladesh: Pakistan won by 6 wickets
The first real test came in the semi-final against Bangladesh on 1 October. Rain cut the match to 13 overs a side. Bangladesh posted 111/7, and Pakistan had to chase a revised target of 112. At 53 for 4 the chase was in danger, but vice-captain Abdul Samad smashed an unbeaten 30 off just 15 balls (five fours and a six) and Hasan Nawaz added 27 not out. Pakistan won by six wickets with nine balls to spare.
The win was also revenge for the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where Bangladesh beat Pakistan in the bronze medal match. Now Pakistan are one win away from their first ever Asian Games cricket gold. Their only previous medal in the event is the bronze from Guangzhou in 2010.
Pakistan Squad Analysis: Player Profiles
Sahibzada Farhan (Captain)
Sahibzada Farhan leads Pakistan from the top of the order. He is an attacking right-handed opener who likes to score quickly in the powerplay. As captain, his biggest job in Japan is managing a talented but young group and using his spinners well on a slow pitch. A strong start from Farhan gives the rest of the batting line-up freedom to attack.
Abdul Samad (Vice-captain)
Abdul Samad is one of the cleanest hitters in Pakistan’s domestic system. He showed that in the semi-final, turning a tricky chase into a comfortable win with 30 not out off 15 balls. Samad usually bats in the middle or lower-middle order, and his job is to finish games. If Pakistan need quick runs in the last five overs of the final, all eyes will be on him.
Saim Ayub
Saim Ayub is a left-handed opener with a lot of natural timing. He can play big shots with very little effort and has become a regular in Pakistan’s white-ball sides. His part-time off-spin also gives the captain an extra bowling option, which is valuable against India’s many left-handed batters.
Usman Khan (Wicketkeeper)
Usman Khan is Pakistan’s specialist wicketkeeper-batter. He is an aggressive batter who can bat in the top order or the middle order. Behind the stumps, his work against Pakistan’s spinners will be important on a surface where the ball grips and turns.
Haider Ali
Haider Ali is an experienced T20 batter who first broke into the Pakistan team at a young age. He is strong square of the wicket and can score quickly against pace. He gives Pakistan depth in the top and middle order.
Hasan Nawaz
Hasan Nawaz has made a name for himself as a fast-scoring T20 batter. He played a key role in the semi-final with 27 not out alongside Samad. His ability to rotate the strike and hit boundaries makes him an important part of the middle order.
Maaz Sadaqat
Maaz Sadaqat is a left-handed batting all-rounder who also bowls left-arm spin. Players like him are very useful at Korogi, where spinners have taken most of the wickets in the tournament.
Arafat Minhas
Arafat Minhas is a spin-bowling all-rounder who bowls left-arm spin and bats in the lower order. He gives Pakistan balance by filling the role of a fifth or sixth bowler while adding batting depth.
Saad Masood
Saad Masood is the squad’s other all-rounder option. He gives the team management flexibility if conditions or match-ups call for an extra all-round player in the XI.
Abrar Ahmed
Abrar Ahmed is Pakistan’s main wicket-taking spinner. His mix of leg-breaks, googlies and carrom balls makes him hard to read. Against India’s batters on a turning pitch, his four overs could decide the final.
Sufyan Moqim
Sufyan Moqim is a left-arm wrist spinner, a rare skill in world cricket. The ball spins away from right-handed batters and into left-handers, so he can be used to attack specific match-ups in the middle overs.
Mohammad Salman Mirza
Mohammad Salman Mirza is a left-arm fast bowler who can swing the new ball. His angle across right-handed batters makes him a good option in the powerplay.
Akif Javed
Akif Javed is another left-arm fast bowler. He gives Pakistan pace and variety, and he can bowl at the death with yorkers and slower balls.
Ali Raza
Ali Raza is a young, quick fast bowler who can hit the deck hard. On a slow pitch he may need to rely on cutters and changes of pace, but his raw speed is a weapon against batters who are still settling in.
Ahmed Daniyal
Ahmed Daniyal is a right-arm fast bowler who completes Pakistan’s pace group. He is a strong back-up option and can come in if the team wants an extra seamer for the final.
Pakistan Probable Playing XI vs India (Final)
- Sahibzada Farhan (Captain)
- Saim Ayub
- Usman Khan (Wicketkeeper)
- Haider Ali
- Hasan Nawaz
- Abdul Samad (Vice-captain)
- Maaz Sadaqat
- Arafat Minhas
- Mohammad Salman Mirza
- Abrar Ahmed
- Sufyan Moqim
Note: this is a predicted line-up. Pakistan are likely to keep the core of the side that beat Bangladesh. The final XI will be confirmed at the toss.
Pakistan Squad Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
- Spin attack: Abrar Ahmed, Sufyan Moqim, Arafat Minhas and Maaz Sadaqat give Pakistan four quality spin options on a pitch that has favoured spinners all tournament.
- Finishing power: Abdul Samad and Hasan Nawaz proved in the semi-final that they can win games under pressure.
- Left-arm pace: Salman Mirza and Akif Javed give different angles that can trouble India’s top order.
- Confidence: a hard-fought semi-final win over Bangladesh gives the team belief going into the final.
Weaknesses
- Top-order wobble: Pakistan slipped to 53/4 in the semi-final. Against Bumrah and Arshdeep, early wickets could be costly.
- Limited match time: because of the quarter-final washout, the semi-final was Pakistan’s only completed game of the tournament.
- Experience gap: India’s squad has several first-choice T20 internationals, while many of Pakistan’s players are still early in their careers.
Why Pakistan Picked a Young Squad for the Asian Games
The Asian Games falls in a busy international calendar, so most cricket boards use the event to give younger and fringe players experience. Pakistan have done the same. Instead of their full-strength national side, they picked a group of in-form domestic and franchise performers along with a few players who have already played for Pakistan.
This approach has two benefits. First, it gives the selectors a chance to test players under real pressure, in a knockout tournament with a medal at stake. Second, it builds depth for the future: players who perform well in Japan are likely to push for places in Pakistan’s senior T20 team. Several names in this squad, including Saim Ayub, Hasan Nawaz and Abdul Samad, are already well known to Pakistan fans and could become regulars in the years ahead.
Pakistan Batting Line-up Explained
Pakistan’s batting order is built around aggression at the top and power at the finish:
- Openers (1–2): Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub. Both like to attack in the powerplay, with a right-hand/left-hand combination that makes it harder for bowlers to settle.
- Top order (3–4): Usman Khan and Haider Ali. They can either keep the scoring rate high or rebuild if Pakistan lose early wickets.
- Middle order (5–6): Hasan Nawaz and Abdul Samad. This is the engine room, and the semi-final showed what this pair can do under pressure.
- Lower order (7–8): Maaz Sadaqat and Arafat Minhas. Both all-rounders can hit boundaries late in the innings and give the batting real depth.
That depth matters. On a slow surface where 140 to 160 can be a winning total, having batters down to number eight lets the top order play with more freedom.
Pakistan Bowling Attack for the Final
Pakistan’s bowling plan for the final is likely to rely heavily on spin. In this tournament, spinners have taken the majority of wickets at Korogi Sports Park, and the surface gets slower as the day goes on.
- New ball: Mohammad Salman Mirza and one more seamer (Akif Javed or Ali Raza) to look for early swing and wickets.
- Middle overs: Abrar Ahmed, Sufyan Moqim and Arafat Minhas or Maaz Sadaqat. This is where Pakistan can squeeze India’s batters and take wickets.
- Death overs: a mix of left-arm pace and cutters, with Saim Ayub or a spinner used depending on the match-ups.
Korogi Sports Park Pitch and Conditions
Korogi Sports Park has produced low and medium scores in this Asian Games. The ball tends to grip and stop on the batters, and spinners have been very effective. Rain has also been a big factor, with both of Pakistan’s knockout games affected by the weather. For the final, both teams will watch the forecast closely. If rain shortens the match again, the DLS method will be used to set revised targets.
Key Battles: Pakistan vs India
- Sahibzada Farhan vs Jasprit Bumrah: Pakistan’s captain against one of the world’s best fast bowlers. Surviving Bumrah’s first spell is key.
- Abrar Ahmed vs Ishan Kishan: Kishan scored 80 not out in the semi-final. Abrar’s mystery spin is Pakistan’s best weapon to stop him.
- Abdul Samad vs Axar Patel: Samad’s power against Axar’s accurate left-arm spin at the death could decide a close finish.
- Saim Ayub vs Arshdeep Singh: a left-hander against left-arm swing in the powerplay.
Pakistan at the Asian Games: History
| Edition | Pakistan result | Gold medal winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 Guangzhou | Bronze medal | Bangladesh |
| 2014 Incheon | No medal | Sri Lanka |
| 2023 Hangzhou | Fourth (lost bronze match to Bangladesh) | India |
| 2026 Aichi-Nagoya | In the final vs India | To be decided on 3 October |
Pakistan vs India Head-to-Head in T20 Cricket
India have the upper hand in men’s T20 internationals against Pakistan. According to pre-final reports, India have won 14 of the 17 T20Is between the two teams, and Pakistan have won 3. However, the Asian Games squads are different from the full national teams. A final is a one-off game, and Pakistan’s young side will see this as a chance to write a new chapter in the rivalry.
Pakistan vs India Final: Date, Time and Venue
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | India vs Pakistan, Gold Medal Match (Final) |
| Date | Saturday, 3 October 2026 |
| Time (Pakistan) | 9:30 AM PKT |
| Time (India) | 10:00 AM IST |
| Time (Japan) | 1:30 PM JST |
| Venue | Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, Aichi, Japan |
| Bronze medal match | Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh, same day (earlier start) |
Where to Watch Pakistan vs India Final Live in Pakistan
| Country | TV Channels | Live Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | PTV Sports, A Sports, Ten Sports | Tamasha, ARY ZAP, Tapmad |
| India | Sony Sports Network | Sony LIV |
Pakistan vs India Final Time for Overseas Fans
Millions of Pakistan fans live abroad. Here is the start time of the final in some popular countries:
| Country | Start time (Saturday, 3 October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Pakistan | 9:30 AM |
| UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi) | 8:30 AM |
| Saudi Arabia, Qatar | 7:30 AM |
| United Kingdom | 5:30 AM |
| Japan (local time) | 1:30 PM |
Pakistan’s Key Players for the Final
- Abdul Samad: the semi-final hero and Pakistan’s best finisher.
- Abrar Ahmed: the main wicket-taker in the middle overs.
- Saim Ayub: can set the tone with the bat and chip in with the ball.
- Sahibzada Farhan: the captain’s start at the top will be crucial against India’s new-ball attack.
Pakistan’s Asian Games 2026 Schedule and Results
| Date | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 28 September 2026 | Quarter-final vs Hong Kong | No result (rain), Pakistan through as higher-ranked team |
| 1 October 2026 | Semi-final vs Bangladesh | Pakistan won by 6 wickets (rain-reduced, 13 overs) |
| 3 October 2026 | Gold Medal Final vs India | 9:30 AM PKT |
How Pakistan Can Beat India in the Final
- Survive the new ball: India have Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh. If Farhan and Saim Ayub can get through the first four overs without losing more than one wicket, Pakistan can build a strong platform.
- Win the middle overs with spin: Abrar Ahmed and Sufyan Moqim should bowl their full eight overs between overs 7 and 15. Taking wickets in this phase, rather than only saving runs, is the best way to stop India’s deep batting line-up.
- Keep Samad for the finish: Pakistan’s best chance of a big total is to keep wickets in hand so Abdul Samad can attack in the last five overs, as he did in the semi-final.
- Field well: in a final, a single dropped catch can cost the match. Sharp fielding, especially in the inner ring while the spinners are bowling, will be vital.
- Stay calm under pressure: India vs Pakistan finals bring huge pressure. The team that handles the big moments better usually wins.
Can Pakistan Win the Asian Games Gold?
On paper, India start as favourites. Their squad is stronger and more experienced, and they crushed Sri Lanka by 124 runs in their semi-final. But T20 finals are often decided by one big innings or one great spell. If Pakistan’s spinners can control India’s batters on a slow Korogi pitch, and Samad and Nawaz repeat their semi-final finishing, Pakistan have every chance of an upset and a historic first Asian Games cricket gold.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many players are in the Pakistan squad for Asian Games 2026?
Pakistan have a 15-member squad for the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket competition.
Who is the captain of Pakistan in the Asian Games 2026?
Sahibzada Farhan is Pakistan’s captain, and Abdul Samad is the vice-captain.
Who is Pakistan’s wicketkeeper in the Asian Games 2026?
Usman Khan is the wicketkeeper in Pakistan’s Asian Games 2026 squad.
When is the Pakistan vs India Asian Games final?
The final is on Saturday, 3 October 2026 at 9:30 AM Pakistan time (10:00 AM India time) at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, Japan.
How did Pakistan reach the Asian Games 2026 final?
Their quarter-final against Hong Kong was washed out, so they went through as the higher-ranked side. They then beat Bangladesh by six wickets in a rain-reduced semi-final, with Abdul Samad scoring 30 not out off 15 balls.
Where can I watch Pakistan vs India final live in Pakistan?
On PTV Sports, A Sports and Ten Sports on TV, and on the Tamasha, ARY ZAP and Tapmad apps.
Is Babar Azam in the Pakistan Asian Games 2026 squad?
No. Babar Azam is not part of the 15-member Asian Games squad. Pakistan picked a younger T20 group led by Sahibzada Farhan, so several senior stars are not in the team.
Is Shaheen Afridi playing in the Asian Games 2026?
No. Shaheen Shah Afridi is not in the squad. Pakistan’s pace attack in Japan includes Mohammad Salman Mirza, Akif Javed, Ali Raza and Ahmed Daniyal.
Has Pakistan ever won Asian Games cricket gold?
No. Pakistan’s best result in men’s cricket at the Asian Games is the bronze medal from Guangzhou 2010. Winning the 2026 final would give them their first gold.
Final Word
The Pakistan squad for Asian Games 2026 is young, fearless and built for T20 cricket. With Sahibzada Farhan leading, Abdul Samad finishing games and a strong spin attack led by Abrar Ahmed, Pakistan go into the gold medal match against India with real belief. Bookmark CricketMatchZone.com for the Pakistan vs India final preview, playing XI updates and the match report.
