Qatar Prepares to Host the Rising Stars Asia Cup T20 Tournament from November 14-23
The Qatar Cricket Association (QCA) will usher in a new era of competitive youth cricket as it hosts the ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup T20 — formerly known as the Emerging Teams tournament — from November 14 to 23. The high-octane T20 event is set to take place at the West-End International Cricket Stadium in Doha, marking yet another milestone in Qatar’s growing status as a regional cricket hub.
The eight-team tournament will feature power-packed action with participants from both full member and associate cricketing nations. India A, Pakistan A, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan – all full members – will be represented by their A squads, while Oman, UAE, and Hong Kong — as associate members — will field their main national teams.
Organizers confirmed that the matches will be open to the public through ticketed entry, offering fans in the region an electrifying chance to witness some of Asia’s most promising cricketing talents in action.
Among the most awaited storylines is the naming of Jitesh Sharma as the captain of the India A squad, with Naman Dhir serving as his deputy. The selection buzz has been amplified by the inclusion of 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a young prodigy who rose to fame during the Indian Premier League, making him one of the youngest players to represent an India A side in competitive cricket.
Tensions will rise when Pakistan A faces India A on November 16, in what will be the highlight clash of the group stage. The cricketing arch-rivals will lock horns for the first time in a men’s fixture since the Senior Asia Cup in September, underscoring the significance of the encounter.
The tournament structure places the teams into two groups:
- Group A: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, and Sri Lanka
- Group B: India A, Oman, Pakistan A, and UAE
The event kicks off with Pakistan A vs Oman and India A vs UAE on November 14, followed by a full schedule of matches leading up to the semi-finals on November 21, and the final on November 23.
Here’s the full tournament schedule:
- Nov 14 – Oman vs Pakistan A; India A vs UAE
- Nov 15 – Bangladesh vs Hong Kong; Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka
- Nov 16 – Oman vs UAE; India A vs Pakistan A
- Nov 17 – Hong Kong vs Sri Lanka; Afghanistan vs Bangladesh
- Nov 18 – Pakistan A vs UAE; India A vs Oman
- Nov 19 – Afghanistan vs Hong Kong; Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka
- Nov 21 – Semi-finals: Group A (1st) vs Group B (2nd); Group B (1st) vs Group A (2nd)
- Nov 23 – Final
With a perfect blend of seasoned youth and emerging stars, the ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup T20 promises to serve as a crucial platform for grooming the next generation of cricketing elites from Asia.
Team V.DIR-EM-UAE
