Pakistan squads announced for Sri Lanka T20Is and ODI tri-series
The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced the national squads for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka and the ODI tri-series featuring Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka.
The announcement brings a major change to Pakistan’s T20I leadership, with Sahibzada Farhan taking charge of the shortest format.
Shaheen Shah Afridi, meanwhile, will continue as Pakistan’s ODI captain as the team prepares for a competitive tri-series on home soil. The announcement was also confirmed by the International Cricket Council.
The T20I series will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 9, 11 and 13.
Sahibzada Farhan gets T20I captaincy
Farhan will captain Pakistan in all three T20Is against Sri Lanka.
The right-handed opening batter recently led Pakistan at the Asian Games and has now been handed responsibility for the national side in the upcoming home series. His appointment marks an important step in his international leadership career.
The 15-member T20I squad includes Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Arafat Minhas, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Khawaja Nafay, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Muhammad Imran Randhawa, Naseem Shah, Razaullah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan and Sufiyan Moqim.
Khawaja Nafay has been named as the wicketkeeper for the T20I side.
Pakistan T20I series dates confirmed
Pakistan and Sri Lanka will play three T20Is in Rawalpindi. The first match will be played on October 9, followed by the second on October 11. The third and final T20I is scheduled for October 13.
All three matches will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The series will form the first part of Sri Lanka’s multi-format tour of Pakistan. The T20I series will also allow Pakistan to assess its players before the longer white-ball assignments begin.
Shaheen Shah Afridi retains ODI leadership
Shaheen Shah Afridi will continue to lead Pakistan in ODIs. He will captain the 16-member squad selected for the tri-series against England and Sri Lanka.
The ODI squad includes Abrar Ahmed, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Naseem Shah, Razaullah, Saad Baig, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan and Sufiyan Moqim.
The squad combines experienced campaigners with younger players who are looking to strengthen their positions in Pakistan’s white-ball setup. Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah and Shadab Khan bring significant international experience to the side.
England joins Pakistan and Sri Lanka in ODI tri-series
The ODI competition will feature Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka in a seven-match tournament. The opening three matches will be played in Rawalpindi before the action moves to Lahore for the remaining league matches and the final.
According to the published schedule, the tri-series will begin on October 18, with Pakistan facing Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi. Pakistan will then play England on October 20, while Sri Lanka and England will meet on October 22.
Also Read: Sri Lanka’s first squad arrives in Islamabad ahead of Pakistan T20I series
The remaining matches will be played at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, with the final scheduled for October 31. The home advantage could make the tournament particularly important for Pakistan as the team prepares for future major international competitions.
Experienced names return to Pakistan’s ODI setup
The ODI squad includes several well-known names who are expected to play important roles during the tri-series.
Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman provide experience in the batting department, while Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah strengthen the pace attack.
Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan and Salman Ali Agha also add depth to the squad. The selection gives Pakistan a mix of established international players and emerging talent.
Mike Hesson to head Pakistan team management
Mike Hesson will continue to oversee the team as head coach.
Shaun Tait has been appointed bowling coach, while Michael Smith will work as batting coach. Mansoor Amjad will serve as fielding coach, with Naveed Akram Cheema appointed as team manager.
The coaching setup will now have an important role in preparing the players for back-to-back white-ball assignments. Management will also need to ensure the team adjusts quickly between the T20I and ODI formats.
Farhan faces an important leadership test
Farhan’s appointment as T20I captain adds another interesting element to Pakistan’s upcoming series. The Sri Lanka T20Is will be his first major opportunity to lead Pakistan in a home bilateral series at the international level.
The decision also allows the team management to assess his leadership abilities ahead of future T20I commitments. Meanwhile, Shaheen will have the responsibility of guiding the ODI side through a demanding tri-series against two strong opponents.
Pakistan faces busy home cricket schedule
The upcoming white-ball assignments are part of a larger home season for Pakistan. After the T20I series against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka will compete in the ODI tri-series from October 18 to 31.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka will then play a two-match Test series as part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27. The first Test is scheduled in Rawalpindi from November 9 to 13, while the second will be played in Lahore from November 17 to 21.
This busy schedule will give Pakistan’s players several opportunities to perform across all three formats.
What Farhan’s appointment means for Pakistan
Farhan’s promotion is one of the biggest talking points in the squad announcement.
His recent leadership experience at the Asian Games appears to have strengthened his position within Pakistan’s T20I setup. The upcoming Sri Lanka series will provide a clear test of his ability to handle international pressure.
For Pakistan, the bigger challenge will be maintaining consistency while different players take leadership responsibilities in different formats. Shaheen’s continued ODI captaincy also provides some stability in the 50-over setup.
