DOHA (Kashmir English):The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has announced the complete schedule for the Asia Cup Rising Stars Championship 2026, with the tournament set to take place in Doha, Qatar, from November 19 to 29.
The 11-day competition will feature eight teams competing across two groups, with matches scheduled at two venues in the Qatari capital.
Defending champions Pakistan Shaheens have been placed in Group A alongside arch-rivals India A, Nepal and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Group B comprises Sri Lanka A, Bangladesh A, Afghanistan A and Hong Kong, China.
The tournament will begin on November 19, with Bangladesh A taking on Hong Kong at the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) Cricket Ground. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka A will face Afghanistan A at the West End International Cricket Stadium (WEICS).
Pakistan Shaheens will launch their title defence against the UAE on November 20 in a morning fixture, while India A will begin their campaign against Nepal on November 21.
The highly anticipated Pakistan-India encounter is scheduled for November 22 at the West End International Cricket Stadium in Doha. The clash is expected to be one of the tournament’s major attractions.
Pakistan Shaheens will conclude their group-stage campaign against Nepal on November 24, while India A will face the UAE on the same day.
According to the tournament format, the top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals after the completion of the league stage.
The first semi-final, featuring the Group A winner against the Group B runner-up, will be played on November 26. The second semi-final is scheduled for November 27.
The championship final will take place on November 29 at the West End International Cricket Stadium, where the two remaining teams will compete for the title.
Pakistan Shaheens will enter the competition as defending champions, aiming to retain their crown against a strong field of emerging Asian cricketing talent.
