Pakistan’s white-ball squads for the upcoming Sri Lanka series have sparked confusion after the PCB announced the teams without naming vice-captains in either the T20I or ODI formats. On October 5, the PCB confirmed Sahibzada Farhan as T20I captain and Shaheen Shah Afridi as ODI captain, but left the vice-captaincy roles vacant in both squads.
The T20I series against Sri Lanka is set for October 9, 11, and 13, while the ODI tri-series featuring Sri Lanka and England begins on October 18. With both competitions starting imminently, no official vice-captain has been designated for either squad. This lack of clarity has drawn scrutiny from former cricketer Basit Ali, who directed his concerns at Aaqib Javed, the PCB official overseeing squad selection and team management.
Basit Ali questions the absence of vice-captaincy clarity
“Who is the vice-captain of the T20 and ODI teams, Aaqib Javed sir?” Basit Ali asked on social media, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the leadership hierarchy in Pakistan’s white-ball teams as both squads prepare for important international matches. His intervention underscores the need for clarity before the series commences.
Abdul Samad previously served as vice-captain during the Asian Games, providing a recent precedent for the role. However, the PCB has not confirmed whether Samad or any other player will assume the vice-captaincy for the Sri Lanka series. The absence of a designated vice-captain can create uncertainty within a squad regarding chain of command and contingency planning.
With the T20I matches beginning just days after the squad announcement, the PCB faces pressure to clarify its leadership arrangements. The absence of a named vice-captain in either format remains unresolved as both teams prepare for their respective series against Sri Lanka and the tri-series involving England.
Pakistan secured the Silver Medal at the 2026 Asian Games after losing to arch-rivals India in a high-scoring final in Nisshin, Japan.
