Pakistan and India Unveil Cricket Squads for 2026 Asian Games

As the 2026 Asian Games approach, Pakistan and India have unveiled their cricket squads, showcasing a blend of fresh talent and seasoned players. Pakistan's lineup includes uncapped players like Akif Javed and Saad Masood, while India is led by new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, featuring rising star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The tournament will take place from September 24 to October 3, with ten teams competing for the gold medal. Read on for detailed squad information and insights into the upcoming matches.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 10, 2026, 11:50 IST

Pakistan Announces Squad for Asian Games 2026

Pakistan has revealed its 15-member cricket squad for the upcoming Asian Games 2026, featuring a mix of seasoned players and newcomers, as reported by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The lineup includes uncapped talents such as Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Maaz Sadaqat, and Saad Masood, all of whom are poised to potentially make their T20I debuts during the event.

Sahibzada Farhan has been appointed as the captain for this 10-team tournament, while Abdul Samad will serve as the vice-captain.

The men's cricket matches at the 2026 Asian Games will adopt the T20 format, scheduled to take place from September 24 to October 3.

Ten teams, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Japan, Nepal, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Oman, will compete for the gold medal.

Automatic qualifications were granted to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, along with the host nation, Japan.

Pakistan Squad

The Pakistan squad comprises: Sahibzada Farhan (c), Abdul Samad (vc), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Arafat Minhas, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Saad Masood, Saim Ayub, Sufyan Moqim, and Usman Khan.

India Reveals Squad Led by Shreyas Iyer

In parallel, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has disclosed the Indian squad for the Asian Games.

Shreyas Iyer, the newly appointed T20I captain, will lead the team in Japan, with Tilak Varma taking on the role of vice-captain.

Teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is expected to vie for a position at the top of the batting order, joining established players like Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan, thereby enhancing the competition within India's batting lineup.

India Squad

The Indian squad includes: Shreyas Iyer (capt), Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (vc), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and Jasprit Bumrah.