Pakistan’s squad is a blend of junior and senior players: Captain Sahibzada Farhan
Pakistan’s squad is a blend of junior and senior players: Captain Sahibzada Farhan
(Asghar Ali Mubarak) Sahibzada Farhan, captain of Pakistan’s T20 cricket team, states that the squad comprises a mix of junior and senior players. He notes that the presence of senior players will assist him in his role as captain, acknowledging that the pressure of captaincy is inevitable.
He hopes the top-order batters will adopt a T20 mindset, noting that Pakistan’s top order typically plays aggressively and will feature a combination of right- and left-handed batsmen.
While captaincy is not necessarily a “bed of thorns,” a captain’s individual performance is crucial for sending a positive message to the team. Farhan remarked that the role poses no major challenge for him, as he has previously captained teams in domestic cricket.
He emphasized that in international cricket, there is no such thing as a “small” or “big” team—even smaller teams exert pressure, and the game at this level is never easy.
The national T20 captain explained that while the selection committee is responsible for forming the squad—a process in which he is not deeply involved—he has been provided with an excellent 15-member team.
He anticipates batting-friendly conditions in Pakistan and plans to field a lineup featuring two spinners and three fast bowlers. He also highlighted Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan as world-class players who could make a comeback to the T20 format at any time.
He stated that he knows how to navigate the challenges of a cricketing career; he is not concerned about whether he will retain the captaincy in the future, but rather aims to win matches for Pakistan as long as he holds the role.
This conversation and the accompanying photographs—featuring the newly appointed national T20 captain, Sahibzada Farhan, and senior sports journalist Asghar Ali Mubarak at Pindi Cricket Stadium—were captured during the unveiling of the trophy for the T20 series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently entrusted Sahibzada Farhan with the leadership of the national T20 team. His first major test is the three-match home series against Sri Lanka, commencing on October 9 at Pindi Cricket Stadium. During the conversation,
the newly appointed captain appeared highly confident, expressing optimism about winning the series through a combination of young talent and the return of senior players.
