Pakistan’s white-ball cricket squad has departed Karachi for Japan via Dubai to participate in the men’s cricket tournament at the 2026 Asian Games. Captain Sahibzada Farhan has expressed confidence in the team and hopes to win the gold medal. The squad completed a four-day pre-departure training camp at the Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre at the National Stadium Karachi on Thursday. Five players — Usman Khan, Saim Ayub, Maaz Sadaqat, Hasan Nawaz and Sufyan Moqim — joined the camp after completing their franchise commitments in the Caribbean Premier League. Fast bowler Mohammad Salman Mirza has been ruled out of the Asian Games after suffering a fracture to his left thumb. Mohammad Wasim Jnr was included in the 15-member squad as his replacement. The Pakistan squad comprises Sahibzada Farhan (captain), Abdul Samad (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Arafat Minhas, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Saad Masood, Saim Ayub, Sufyan Moqim and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper). The support staff includes head coach Mike Hesson, bowling coach Ashley Noffke, fielding coach Shane McDermott, physiotherapist Muhammad Tahir, trainer Imran Ullah and analyst Usman Hashmi. The men’s cricket tournament at the 2026 Asian Games begins on September 24 in Japan, with the medal matches scheduled for October 3.
