Pakistan Shaheens Squad for Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026
The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced a 15-member Pakistan Shaheens squad for the ACC Men's Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026. The tournament is scheduled to take place in Qatar from November 19 to 29. Abdul Samad will captain the defending champions in the 50-over tournament. Pakistan has been placed in Group B alongside India A, Nepal, and the United Arab Emirates.
The announcement sets the stage for the developmental side to defend their title in foreign conditions. Selection panels rely on this tournament to test emerging talent against regional rivals. Fans and analysts monitor these squads closely to spot future national team fixtures.
Tournament Format and Group B Opponents
The ACC Men's Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 brings together top developmental teams from across the continent. Group B features Pakistan Shaheens alongside India A, Nepal, and the United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, Group A comprises Afghanistan A, Bangladesh A, Hong Kong China, and Sri Lanka A.
The tournament format requires teams to play round-robin matches within their respective groups. The top-performing sides progress to the knockout stages. The competition serves as a vital bridge for young cricketers transitioning to senior international representation.
Complete Pakistan Shaheens Squad List
The 15-member squad features a balanced mix of batting talent, fast bowling options, and spin specialists. Abdul Samad leads the side as captain. The batting lineup includes Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Haider Ali, Shahzaib Khan, Farhan Yousuf, and Shamyl Hussain. Rohail Nazir serves as the designated wicketkeeper for the team.
The bowling department features a potent pace attack alongside versatile spin options. Mohammad Hasnain leads the fast bowling unit, supported by Ahmed Daniyal, left-arm pacer Akif Javed, and Muhammad Imran Randhawa. Daniyal previously earned renown as Pakistan Shaheens' Super Over hero in the previous edition. The spin department relies on Danish Aziz, Saad Masood, and Sufyan Moqim.
Match Schedule and Venues in Qatar
Pakistan Shaheens will begin their campaign against the United Arab Emirates on November 20 at 11 a.m. PKT. This opening fixture takes place at the University of Doha Science and Technology. Following this match, Pakistan faces India A on November 22 and Nepal on November 24.
Both the matches against India A and Nepal will start at 3 p.m. PKT. These fixtures take place at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium. This stadium also hosts the semifinals on November 26 and 27, along with the final on November 29 at the same time.
History of Pakistan Shaheens in the Tournament
Pakistan enters the 2026 edition as the defending champions of the 50-over format. Pakistan Shaheens won the previous 50-over edition in Sri Lanka in 2023. In that final, they defeated India A by 128 runs. They also secured the title in the most recent T20 edition after overcoming Bangladesh A in a Super Over.
Looking further back into the history of the competition, Pakistan previously won the tournament in 2019. They also finished as runners-up in the 2013 and 2017 editions. These past achievements establish the team as a traditional powerhouse in developmental cricket tournaments across the continent.
