Story perspectives

Pakistan names Farhan-led squad without Babar, Shaheen, Rizwan

By Drooid · Sep 24, 2026, 3:57 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Pakistan will field a second-string squad without Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi or Mohammad Rizwan.
Sahibzada Farhan will captain the 15-member team that includes four uncapped players.
Coach Mike Hesson said India is the benchmark in white-ball cricket and Pakistan must catch up.
Pakistan will meet the Pool B winner—Hong Kong, Oman or Malaysia—in the quarter-final on September 28.

History

Historical Context

Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup triumph, their first title, came after a disastrous start and Imran Khan’s “cornered tigers” rally, culminating in a 22-run victory over England at Melbourne. The tournament, hosted by Australia and New Zealand, also introduced coloured kits and day-night finals. That underdog spirit still shapes Pakistan’s current campaigns, as they seek to close the gap with rivals like India.

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Story summary

Pakistan will field a second-string squad without Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi or Mohammad Rizwan.
Sahibzada Farhan will captain the 15-member team that includes four uncapped players.
Coach Mike Hesson said India is the benchmark in white-ball cricket and Pakistan must catch up.
Pakistan will meet the Pool B winner—Hong Kong, Oman or Malaysia—in the quarter-final on September 28.

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