6 October 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : Pakistan have appointed Sahibzada Farhan as their new T20I captain, replacing Salman Ali Agha ahead of the upcoming three-match home series against Sri Lanka. The Pakistan Cricket Board announced the leadership change on October 5 along with the squads for the T20I series and the subsequent ODI tri-series.
Farhan, a right-handed opening batter, will lead Pakistan in the shortest format after recently captaining the country’s side at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. Pakistan won the silver medal in the men’s cricket competition, with India taking the gold.
The 30-year-old now gets his first opportunity to lead Pakistan’s senior T20I side on a full-time basis. His appointment comes as Pakistan begin preparations for their next phase in T20 cricket, with the team looking ahead to future international assignments.
Salman Ali Agha, who had been Pakistan’s T20I captain, has been left out of the 15-member squad for the Sri Lanka series. However, he remains part of Pakistan’s ODI setup and has been included in the 16-member squad for the upcoming tri-series involving England and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan’s T20I squad also does not include several established names from the previous setup, including Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi. Shaheen will continue to lead the ODI side, while Babar has been selected for the ODI tri-series.
Farhan has already gained leadership experience with Pakistan’s Asian Games team. The PCB had earlier named him captain for the tournament, where he led a young side through the T20 competition. His elevation to the senior T20I captaincy follows that experience.
The new captain will take charge of a squad featuring a mix of experienced international players and emerging talent. Fakhar Zaman, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan and Abrar Ahmed are among the established players included, while players such as Razaullah, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, Maaz Sadaqat and Hasan Nawaz add younger options.
Razaullah has attracted particular attention after making an impact on his recent Test debut against England. The all-rounder scored 81 runs from 63 deliveries and also claimed four wickets, earning a place in the T20I squad. Mohammad Imran Randhawa, another player to have made his Test debut during the England series, has also been included.
The three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka will be played entirely at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The opening match is scheduled for October 9, followed by the second T20I on October 11 and the third on October 13.
The series will be Pakistan’s first T20I assignment since the 2026 T20 World Cup. Salman Ali Agha had led Pakistan during that tournament, but the team has now opted for a change in leadership and personnel for the Sri Lanka series.
The leadership change also means Pakistan will have different captains in the two white-ball formats. Farhan will lead the T20I side, while Shaheen Shah Afridi will remain at the helm of the ODI team. The ODI side will compete in a tri-series featuring Sri Lanka and England.
The ODI tri-series begins on October 18 in Rawalpindi, with Pakistan facing Sri Lanka in the opening match. The tournament will subsequently move to Lahore, where the remaining league matches and the final will be played at Gaddafi Stadium. The final is scheduled for October 31.
For Farhan, the appointment represents an important step in his international career. He has established himself as a top-order option for Pakistan and now faces the additional responsibility of guiding the team on the field. His first challenge will be against Sri Lanka, who will visit Pakistan for the three-match T20I series.
The PCB’s decision creates a fresh leadership combination for Pakistan’s T20I setup. With several younger players included in the squad, Farhan will be expected to balance emerging talent with experienced campaigners as Pakistan begin their next T20I cycle.
The immediate focus will be on the Rawalpindi series, but the appointment could also shape Pakistan’s longer-term plans in the shortest format. The team’s performances under Farhan will be closely followed as Pakistan look to build consistency and develop their T20 squad for future international competitions.