Sahibzada Farhan has been named captain of Pakistan’s T20I side for the three-match series against Sri Lanka, with Shaheen Shah Afridi retaining the ODI captaincy for the upcoming tri-series, the selectors announced on Monday.
The three T20Is will be played on October 9, 11 and 13 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The change in leadership comes after Salman Ali Agha was replaced as T20I captain following the Asian Games, where Pakistan lost the final to India.
Sahibzada Farhan Captain: What Changes in the T20I Squad
Farhan leads a 15-member squad that includes Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Abrar Ahmed, Naseem Shah, Maaz Sadaqat, Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz, Razaullah and Mohammad Imran Randhawa. According to Dawn, Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Salman Ali Agha have been left out of the T20I squad.
The squad mixes experience with a handful of fresh faces. Razaullah, an uncapped all-rounder, earned his place after scoring 81 with nine sixes on his Test debut. Mohammad Imran Randhawa, another uncapped all-rounder, has also been picked. Hasan Nawaz, who topped the run charts at the Asian Games with 123 runs, keeps his place, while Abdul Samad returns after being out of the side since March 2025.
Farhan himself was already seen as a leading candidate for the job. He captained Pakistan’s side at the Asian Games, and team coach Mike Hesson had spoken publicly about the value of that captaincy experience. The Express Tribune noted in an analysis this week that Farhan appeared to be the coach’s preferred long-term option for the role.
Shaheen Afridi Keeps ODI Captaincy
In the 50-over format, there is continuity. Shaheen Shah Afridi remains ODI captain for the tri-series involving England and Sri Lanka. The 16-member ODI squad features Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha, Haris Rauf, Faheem Ashraf, Razaullah, left-arm wrist-spinner Sufiyan Moqim and Saad Baig, who has received his maiden call-up.
The first three matches of the tri-series will be played in Rawalpindi, while the remaining league games and the final are scheduled for Lahore. The exact dates for the ODI matches were not mentioned in the announcement.
Splitting the captaincy by format is not new for Pakistan, but it has often drawn debate. Supporters say it lets the team pick the best leader for each format, while critics argue it can blur lines of responsibility. Pakistan’s recent record, including an exit at the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup and the Asian Games final defeat, has intensified that discussion.
Bowling Coach Change
There is also a change in the support staff. Former Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait returns as bowling coach in a consultancy role. He replaces Ashley Noffke, who has left to become head coach of the Netherlands team. Tait will work with a pace attack that includes Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, and a spin department led by Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan.
What to Expect Against Sri Lanka
For Farhan, the home series is a chance to stamp his authority early. A new captain, two uncapped all-rounders and the return of Abdul Samad give the squad a fresh look going into the series at home in Rawalpindi.
The series will also serve as a test of the selectors’ thinking, with the omission of Babar and Shaheen from the shortest format showing a willingness to look beyond established names. Fans will watch closely to see whether Farhan can combine tactical clarity with the freedom to take his own decisions on the field, something the Tribune analysis suggested previous captains did not always enjoy.
The T20Is begin on October 9, and the focus will quickly shift to the tri-series, where Shaheen’s side faces England and Sri Lanka in front of home crowds in Rawalpindi and Lahore.
