The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a major shake-up of the national T20I side, dropping Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Salman Ali Agha from the T20 squad for the home series against Sri Lanka. In their place, Sahibzada Farhan has been named Pakistan’s new T20I captain.
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Sahibzada Farhan Named New T20I Captain
Farhan replaces Salman Ali Agha as T20I skipper, becoming Pakistan’s fourth T20I captain in just two and a half years. The decision follows Pakistan’s underwhelming run under Agha, whose side won 31 of 50 T20Is but failed to reach the semi-finals of this year’s T20 World Cup.
The appointment is a reward for Farhan’s outstanding recent form. He finished as the leading run-scorer of the 2026 T20 World Cup with 383 runs at a strike rate of 160, and captained Pakistan to a silver medal at the Asian Games in Japan, where the Green Shirts lost the final to India.
Farhan is currently ranked among the top T20 batters in the ICC rankings, and selectors see him as the face of Pakistan’s rebuild ahead of the 2028 T20 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi Dropped from T20I Squad
The biggest headline is the axing of three senior stars. Babar Azam — a former T20I captain — and pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi have both been left out of the 15-member T20I squad, along with the sacked captain Salman Ali Agha.
Selectors pointed to inconsistent performances in the shortest format as the reason behind the bold calls. All three players, however, have been retained in the ODI squad, with Shaheen continuing as Pakistan’s ODI captain for the upcoming tri-series.
Also missing from the T20I squad are Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Khan and Usman Tariq, who were all part of recent T20I setups.
New Faces in Pakistan’s T20I Squad
The selectors have handed opportunities to several young and exciting players. Abdul Samad, Arafat Minhas, Hasan Nawaz, Muhammad Imran Randhawa, Maaz Sadaqat, Razaullah and Mohammad Salman Mirza have all earned places in the squad.
The most eye-catching selection is Razaullah, who receives his maiden white-ball call-up after a dream Test debut against England, where he smashed 81 runs and picked up four wickets. His fearless batting has made him one of the most talked-about young cricketers in the country.
Fast bowler Naseem Shah also returns to the T20I side, while Khawaja Nafay has been picked as the wicketkeeper-batter.
Pakistan T20I Squad for Sri Lanka Series 2026
Here is the full 15-member squad announced by the PCB:
- 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
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka T20 Series Schedule 2026
All three T20Is will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium:
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | October 9, 2026 | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium |
| 2nd T20I | October 11, 2026 | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium |
| 3rd T20I | October 13, 2026 | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium |
Sri Lanka will be led by Kusal Mendis. Tickets for the series went on sale online, with general stand tickets starting from Rs 200.
What’s Next: ODI Tri-Series and Test Matches
After the T20I series, Pakistan will feature in a seven-match ODI tri-series involving England and Sri Lanka from October 18 to 31. Rawalpindi will host the opening matches before the action moves to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium for the remaining games and the final.
The tour will conclude with two Test matches in November — part of the ICC World Test Championship — in Rawalpindi and Lahore.
Predicted Playing XI for the 1st T20I
With so many new faces, Pakistan’s combination for the October 9 opener is genuinely hard to call. A likely XI: Sahibzada Farhan (c), Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Shadab Khan, Maaz Sadaqat, Arafat Minhas, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Salman Mirza. The final call will hinge on conditions at Rawalpindi, where pitches traditionally assist pace early before gripping for spin later in the evening.
Head-to-Head: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka in T20Is
The two sides have met 24 times in T20 internationals, with Pakistan leading 14–10. Their most recent clash came at the 2026 T20 World Cup, where Pakistan held their nerve to win a thriller by 5 runs in Kandy. Sri Lanka, led by Kusal Mendis, will be desperate to avenge that defeat — and a raw, young Pakistan side gives them every reason to believe.
Where to Watch Pak vs SL T20Is
The series will be broadcast live in Pakistan on PTV Sports and Ten Sports, with live streaming available on the Tamasha and Tapmad apps. Tickets for all three Rawalpindi matches went on sale at pcb.tcs.com.pk, with general enclosures starting from just Rs200.
Why was Salman Ali Agha removed as captain?
No official reason was given, but selectors have hinted at building toward the 2028 T20 World Cup. Under Agha, Pakistan won 31 of 50 T20Is yet missed the World Cup semi-finals — and the PCB clearly wanted a fresh start.
Will Babar Azam return to T20Is?
The door is not closed — he remains central to Pakistan’s ODI plans. But with Farhan’s new-look side starting a fresh cycle, Babar will need big domestic T20 numbers to force his way back into the shortest format.
FAQs
Why were Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi dropped from the T20I squad?
The PCB selectors cited inconsistent performances in T20 cricket. Both players remain part of Pakistan’s ODI plans, with Shaheen continuing as ODI captain.
Who is Pakistan’s new T20I captain?
Sahibzada Farhan has been appointed T20I captain, replacing Salman Ali Agha. He led Pakistan to Asian Games silver and was the top scorer of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
When does the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka T20 series start?
The three-match T20I series begins on October 9, 2026, with all matches at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The other two games are on October 11 and 13.
Is Salman Ali Agha still in Pakistan’s plans?
Yes — while he has lost the T20I captaincy and his place in the T20I squad, Salman Ali Agha has been retained in Pakistan’s ODI squad for the tri-series.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Squad details are based on the PCB’s official announcement and media reports. For confirmed team news and ticket information, please refer to the PCB’s official channels.
