Babar Azam absent as Pakistan prepare to face India in Asian Games 2026 men's final

India and Pakistan meet in the men’s cricket gold-medal match at the Asian Games 2026 in Nisshin on Saturday, and Pakistan will play without Babar Azam after he was left out of the country’s 15-member squad announced in June.

India reached the final by beating Sri Lanka by 124 runs, while Pakistan advanced after a rain-affected semi-final in which they defeated Bangladesh by six wickets. India enter the match as the defending champions and seek to retain their title; Pakistan are aiming to win their first men’s cricket gold at the Asian Games.

Pakistan’s squad naming included Sahibzada Farhan as captain and Abdul Samad as vice-captain. The Pakistan Cricket Board omitted several established internationals from the roster, selecting a younger group for the tournament.

Among the senior players not picked were Shaheen Shah Afridi, Salman Ali Agha and Shadab Khan. The decision to prioritise youth in the 15-member squad produced the omission of high-profile names, including Babar Azam.

Babar Azam’s absence has been highlighted ahead of the India–Pakistan final and is expected to be a major talking point around the match. Pakistan will lean on captain Sahibzada Farhan and the younger players in their bid to challenge the defending champions in Nisshin.

The men’s cricket gold-medal match at the Asian Games 2026 is scheduled to take place in Nisshin on Saturday.