Pakistan men’s cricket team opens up their home season against Sri Lanka, which started on October 09 (Friday). With a revamped T20I squad led by the new captain Sahibzada Farhan, the selection committee has moved on from its past star cricketers.

The current squad features a new combination of players without any veteran stars like Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and the former skipper Salman Agha.

Sahibzada will continue as T20I captain after leading Pakistan Cricket to a silver medal at the recently concluded Asian Games in Japan. After losing to India in the highly anticipated final last week, Pakistan hopes to turn things around with fresh talent in the squad.

Sahibzada Farhan Confident To Lead New Squad

During the media interaction at the Rawalpindi cricket stadium on Thursday (October 08), Sahibzada Farhan confidently said that he is comfortable leading the new squad.

“See! This new combination will certainly prove to be the best to settle well in this series. I am confident in how to lead the team and won’t take any extra pressure.

It is really exciting with the new captaincy challenge. You guys try to hope for the best, and Inshaallaah (meaning god’s grace), we try our best to win the series,” Farhan said.

Furthermore, the Pakistani skipper opened up about the comebacks of Fakhar Zaman, Naseem Shah and Shadab Khan, who didn’t feature in the Asian Games 2026.

“Certainly! The current squad is a mix of youngsters and experienced players, and there are a few players who made a comeback, especially Shadab and Fakhar. They are seniors, and I am quite comfortable with them as their experience can help me learn a lot,” Farhan added.

Most importantly, the opening batter clarified that the captaincy role is open in T20 cricket, highlighting the chances of previous captains to make a comeback.

“Certainly! They always rank as one of the best players in the world. Based on the best 15 players finalized by the selectors, I have to play with them. At the same time, it is important to remember that the doors are open for anyone, and they can make a comeback anytime, sooner or later,” Farhan added.

Why Babar Azam is No Longer A Part of Pakistan’s T20I Plans?

Babar Azam’s form in T20I cricket has declined massively in recent times. He was dropped from Pakistan’s playing XI in their last group stage clash of the T20 World Cup 2026 against Sri Lanka.

Here is a quick recap of Babar’s scores in his last five T20I innings, including the only 50+ score against Australia in February 2026:

• 25 runs off 24 balls (including 2 fours) vs England, Pallekele, 24th February 2026
  
• 5 runs off 7 balls vs India, Colombo, 15th February 2026
  
• 46 runs off 32 balls (including 4 fours and 1 six) vs USA, Colombo, 10th February 2026
  
• 15 runs off 18 balls (including 1 four) vs Netherlands, Colombo, 07th February 2026
  
• *50 runs off 36 balls vs Australia (including 3 fours and 1 six), Lahore, 01st February 2026

Why Shaheen Afridi Is Not Included in Pakistan Cricket T20I Squad?

As Pakistan plans for a major transition ahead of the next T20 World Cup in 2028, Shaheen Afridi is left out of the 20-over squad. The selectors have shifted their focus towards the young generation of pacers, priortizing young talents and unique combinations in the shortest format of international cricket.

Also, Shaheen is currently the Pakistan cricket team’s skipper in the ODI format. Considering the heavy workload and increased scrutiny on his T20I performances, the selectors have decided to include young aggressive pacers in the squad, replacing Shaheen.

Pakistan 15-Member Squad for 3-Match T20I Series vs Sri Lanka 2026

Here is the complete list of Pakistan’s 15-member squad led by Sahibzada Farhan for the 3-match T20I series against Sri Lanka at home:

Pakistan’s Schedule For 3-Match T20I Series vs Sri Lanka 2026

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium will host Pakistan’s 3-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, and here is the complete schedule:

Final Opinion

With the absence of key players like Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi in the T20I squad, there has been widespread debate on Pakistan selectors’ approach to look beyond established stars and prefer a fresh core of players.

Even though this is a bold and risky approach, Sahibzada Farhan believes that the new squad can attain glory in Pakistan’s new era of T20I cricket. If the youngsters make use of the opportunity, Pakistan cricket transition could set the foundation for a more aggressive and fearless brand of T20 cricket ahead of future high-profile tournaments.