Captain Farhan Unfazed by Inexperience as Pakistan Target Asian Games Gold

Pakistan captain Sahibzada Farhan is confident that the relative inexperience of the squad will not prove to be a hurdle as the team prepares for the men's T20 competition at the Asian Games.

Pakistan have used their four-day pre-departure camp in Karachi to prepare specifically for the conditions they expect to encounter at the Kōrogi Sports Park in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Head coach Mike Hesson's reconnaissance visit to the venue provided the team with valuable information, which has been incorporated into their preparations.

The team has worked on pitches designed to replicate the expected playing conditions in Japan, while the players have also focused on expanding their range of shots and improving their ability to handle spin.

Farhan, who will captain Pakistan for the first time, said the camp had provided the team with an opportunity to prepare for the challenges ahead.

"We have tried to replicate the conditions which we expect to encounter in the Asian Games and played spin more. We have had two scenario matches as well and the players are looking in good shape," Farhan said.

The 15-member squad includes a mix of senior players and members of the Pakistan Shaheens setup. Four players — Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Maaz Sadaqat and Saad Masood — are yet to make their international debuts.

However, Farhan does not believe the squad lacks experience, pointing to the players' domestic and Pakistan Super League backgrounds.

"It is not like the players who have been selected for the Asian Games are inexperienced. They have all played international cricket or come into the team after proving themselves in domestic cricket and the PSL. I have a lot of confidence in these players," he said.

Several members of the squad also arrive in Japan with recent competitive experience from the Caribbean Premier League. Sufyan Moqim produced a Player of the Final performance after taking 4 for 14 for Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, while Maaz Sadaqat scored his second century of the playoffs for Kingsmen Jamaica. Saim Ayub had also registered a century during the league stage, with wicketkeeper-batter Usman Khan also featuring for Kingsmen.

Farhan's own captaincy experience in T20 cricket is limited, having led Peshawar in three matches during the Super Eight stage of the National T20 Cup in December 2023. Nevertheless, the 28-year-old is embracing the opportunity to lead Pakistan and hopes to set an example with his aggressive batting.

"It is quite a proud moment to be leading Pakistan," Farhan said. "There is no pressure on me whether I play as a captain or a player and I will continue to bat how I do, in an aggressive manner."

He added that players often take cues from their captain's approach and stressed the importance of leading from the front.

Pakistan are among the four seeded teams at the Asian Games and will enter the men's T20 competition at the quarter-final stage on September 28. They will face the runners-up from Group B, which features Hong Kong, Malaysia and Oman.

With limited preparation time expected after arriving in Japan, Pakistan will hope their intensive pre-departure camp and the experience gained by several players in recent T20 competitions will help them make a strong start to their Asian Games campaign.