Farhan has been handed the armband as Pakistan’s new T20I skipper, with the first clash against Sri Lanka set for Friday night in Rawalpindi.
"I am very much excited for this new challenge", Farhan told reporters after the press conference. He admitted the weight of the role but pointed to his domestic experience as his armour. "I have captained before, so I know what it takes to lead," he added. In a side note, he credited his father’s prayers for the moment, saying, "Parents’ prayers really do come true."
"Pakistan’s 15‑man squad features a mix of seasoned internationals and fresh faces. Fakhar Zaman, Maaz Sadaqat, and Hasan Nawaz will spearhead the batting, while Naseem Shah is set to spearhead the pace attack. On the spin front, Abrar Ahmed leads a quartet that includes Shadab Khan, Sufiyan Moqim, and Arafat Minhas. With Khawaja Mohammad Nafay on the gloves, the side looks set to play an attacking brand of T20."
"The first match will be a 6pm showdown, with the toss at 5:30pm. Pakistan will look to use the home advantage to take an early series lead and to test the new captain’s tactics against a Sri Lankan side that has won the last bilateral series 3-0 in 2019. The next fixture is set for October 11, followed by a final showdown on the 13th.