Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 Schedule: All 15 Matches, Groups and Pakistan Shaheens Fixtures in Qatar

We read the full fixture list in the Match Centre of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) website on 11 November 2026, and compared it with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) release of 3 November that named the Shaheens squad. The two agree on the dates and opponents. They do not agree on most start times, and we set out both below.

Eight teams play in two groups of four

The Asia Cup Rising Stars is a 50-over tournament for A teams and emerging sides. Group A has Sri Lanka A, Bangladesh A, Afghanistan A and Hong Kong, China. Group B has Pakistan Shaheens, India A, the UAE and Nepal. The top two in each group reach the semi-finals.

Every team plays the other three in its group once. Group A plays on 19, 21 and 23 November, and Group B on 20, 22 and 24 November, so no team plays on two days in a row.

All 15 matches with dates and grounds

Two grounds are used: the University of Doha for Science and Technology ground and the West End International Cricket Stadium. Both are in Doha. The ACC list shows two matches a day in the group stage, one at each ground.

A1 means the Group A winner and B2 the Group B runner-up. The ACC list puts both semi-finals on 26 November, at different grounds. The PCB release gives 26 and 27 November, one semi-final each day. Until one of them changes, treat the second semi-final date as unconfirmed.

Pakistan Shaheens play the UAE, India A and Nepal

The Shaheens open against the UAE on Friday 20 November at the University of Doha ground. They play India A on Sunday 22 November and Nepal on Tuesday 24 November, both at the West End stadium. If they finish in the top two, their semi-final is on 26 or 27 November.

1. Friday 20 November: Pakistan Shaheens v UAE, University of Doha for Science and Technology.
2. Sunday 22 November: India A v Pakistan Shaheens, West End International Cricket Stadium.
3. Tuesday 24 November: Pakistan Shaheens v Nepal, West End International Cricket Stadium.
4. Semi-final, if they qualify: against a Group A team on 26 or 27 November.
5. Final: Sunday 29 November, West End International Cricket Stadium.

Abdul Samad captains the 15-player squad. The full list, with roles, is in our Pakistan Shaheens squad for the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026. The squad includes a Farhan Yousuf, the same name as the Pakistan U19 captain at the U19 Asia Cup, whose final is on 14 November. The PCB release does not say whether they are the same player.

The ACC and the PCB give different start times

The ACC Match Centre shows every Rising Stars match, including the final, at 11:00 am Pakistan time. The PCB release gives 11 am PKT only for the opening game against the UAE, and 3 pm PKT for every other Shaheens match, which it calls day-night fixtures.

The ACC uses the same 11:00 am time for all 15 matches, which may be a placeholder that has not been updated. The PCB release is more detailed, but it is also older. Qatar is two hours behind Pakistan, so 11 am PKT is 9 am in Doha and 3 pm PKT is 1 pm in Doha. Check the time again on match day. The PCB release also calls the main ground Eden Park International Stadium in its text, while its own fixture list and the ACC say West End.

Three Shaheens are also in Abu Dhabi T10 squads

Sufyan Moqim, Hasan Nawaz and Akif Javed are in the Shaheens squad and in T10 squads in Abu Dhabi. The T10 league stage ends on 19 November and its play-offs are on 20 November, the day the Shaheens start in Doha.

Neither the PCB nor the T10 league has said how this will be handled. The T10 standings and remaining games are in our Abu Dhabi T10 2026 playoff race, and Pakistan's other fixtures this month are in our Pakistan cricket schedule for November 2026.

Common questions

When does the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 start?

Thursday 19 November 2026, with Bangladesh A v Hong Kong, China and Sri Lanka A v Afghanistan A. The final is on 29 November.

When do Pakistan Shaheens play India A?

Sunday 22 November 2026 at the West End International Cricket Stadium in Doha. The ACC lists 11:00 am PKT and the PCB 3 pm PKT.

Where is the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 being played?

In Doha, Qatar, at the University of Doha for Science and Technology ground and the West End International Cricket Stadium.

Which group are Pakistan Shaheens in?

Group B, with India A, the UAE and Nepal. The top two go to the semi-finals.

Are Pakistan Shaheens the defending champions?

Yes. The PCB release of 3 November describes the Shaheens as defending champions.

Is the Asia Cup Rising Stars a T20 or an ODI event?

It is a 50-over event in 2026. The ACC lists it as the DP World Men's Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 (50 Overs).

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

We read the fixtures for the DP World Men's Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 in the ACC Match Centre on 11 November 2026 at about 04:00 PKT. The PCB dates, times and squad come from the PCB release of 3 November 2026, as recorded in our squad report. Doha times are our conversion.