Pakistan Name Squads for Sri Lanka T20Is and ODI Tri-Series

Pakistan has announced its squads for a busy home stretch, naming separate groups for the Sri Lanka T20I series and the ODI tri-series involving Sri Lanka and England. The Pakistan squad Sri Lanka series selections confirm the transition to a new-look T20 side under Sahibzada Farhan.

T20I series: October 9, 11 and 13

Pakistan will play three T20 Internationals against Sri Lanka on October 9, 11 and 13, all in Rawalpindi. The series is Farhan’s first assignment as T20 captain after Salman Ali Agha was removed from the role.

Selectors have backed a young, aggressive squad, with the emphasis on the fearless brand of cricket that defined Pakistan’s Asian Games campaign. Agha, who was dropped from the T20 squad entirely, retains his place in the ODI setup.

ODI tri-series: October 18 to 31

After the T20Is, Pakistan will host an ODI tri-series featuring Sri Lanka and England from October 18 to 31. Matches will be split between Rawalpindi and Lahore, giving fans in both cities a chance to watch top-class 50-over cricket.

The tri-series is a valuable tune-up for Pakistan’s ODI ambitions, with two strong opponents testing the squad’s depth across two venues.

Babar in, Rizwan out

The biggest talking point is the ODI squad composition: Babar Azam has been recalled to the 50-over setup, a boost for Pakistan’s batting. Mohammad Rizwan, however, misses out — a significant call that underlines the selectors’ willingness to make tough decisions.

For Rizwan, the omission will sting, but Pakistan’s white-ball think tank has clearly prioritized a fresh combination. With the tri-series guaranteeing several matches for the new-look side, there will be ample opportunity for the group to gel before bigger challenges arrive.

Shaheen Afridi continues as ODI captain, providing stability in the longer white-ball format while Farhan leads the T20 rebuild.

Key facts

• T20Is: Oct 9, 11, 13 in Rawalpindi; captain Sahibzada Farhan.
• ODI tri-series: Oct 18–31 vs Sri Lanka and England.
• Venues: Rawalpindi and Lahore.
• Babar Azam: Named in ODI squad.
• Mohammad Rizwan: Left out of ODI squad.
• ODI captain: Shaheen Afridi retains role.
• Agha: Out of T20s, stays in ODI squad.
• Reported: Pakistan Today, Oct 5, 2026.

A new era at home

With a new T20 captain, a recalled Babar and a packed home calendar, Pakistan cricket is entering an intriguing phase. The Sri Lanka series will be the first real test of Farhan’s leadership — and the fans in Rawalpindi will be watching closely.