The Pakistan men’s cricket team has suffered a setback just days before the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, as fast bowler Salman Mirza has been officially ruled out of the tournament due to a fractured left thumb.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the injury, announcing that experienced pacer Mohammad Wasim Jnr has been drafted into the squad as Mirza’s replacement. According to the medical update, Mirza is expected to make a full recovery and regain match fitness by the first week of October.
Under the leadership of captain Sahibzada Farhan, the national squad gathered in Karachi on Sunday. The team is currently undergoing a short, intensive training camp at the Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre from September 21 to 24 before their scheduled departure for Japan on Tuesday night.
The 10-team Men’s T20 competition at the Asian Games kicks off on September 24. Pakistan, along with India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and host nation Japan, have secured direct entry to the main draw. Meanwhile, Nepal, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Oman will battle through the qualifying rounds. Pakistan will begin its medal hunt in the quarter-final stage on September 28 against one of the advancing qualifiers.
