Pakistan and Oman will raise the curtain on the ACC Rising Stars T20 tournament in Doha on 14 November, with the much-anticipated India v Pakistan fixture pencilled in two days later. The organisers confirmed the draw late on Friday: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka make up Group A, while India, Oman, Pakistan and the UAE sit in Group B.
The competition, previously branded the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup, keeps the T20 format and the familiar mix of “A” sides and Associates. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have all opted to send their second-string men’s squads, an approach designed to fast-track fringe players. Hong Kong, Oman and the UAE, still carving space on the global stage, will field full national sides.
Two matches are scheduled each day from 14 to 19 November, the semi-finals follow on 21 November and the final wraps things up on 23 November. All fixtures are set for Doha’s West End Park, a ground that has quietly become the ACC’s go-to venue for age-group and development cricket.
Fixtures (local time, double-header days)
14 Nov – Oman v Pakistan; India v UAE
15 Nov – Bangladesh v Hong Kong; Afghanistan v Sri Lanka
16 Nov – Oman v UAE; India v Pakistan
17 Nov – Hong Kong v Sri Lanka; Afghanistan v Bangladesh
18 Nov – Pakistan v UAE; India v Oman
19 Nov – Afghanistan v Hong Kong; Bangladesh v Sri Lanka
21 Nov – Semi-finals: A1 v B2, B1 v A2
23 Nov – Final
Beyond the immediate curiosity of emerging stars, the tournament marks the first men’s meeting between India and Pakistan since a frosty Asia Cup in September. On that occasion there were no post-match handshakes and, in an odd twist, India declined to collect the trophy from ACC president Mohsin Naqvi, who also chairs the PCB. An ACC staff member eventually removed the silverware after a lengthy delay.
The Rising Stars concept dates back to 2013, initially an Under-23 event before shifting to “A”-team status. Pakistan and Sri Lanka have each lifted the trophy twice. India and Afghanistan share one title apiece, Afghanistan having claimed last year’s honours in Oman by beating Sri Lanka with seven wickets and 14 balls to spare.
Whether this year’s edition provides anything like that drama remains to be seen, but the format gives selectors a clear look at form ahead of a packed 2026 calendar.
