The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has unveiled the fixtures for the 2026 Rising Asia Cup which will take place in Doha, Qatar. India and Pakistan have been drawn in the same group alongside Nepal and the UAE setting up another high profile clash between the arch rivals on November 22nd at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium.
The competition typically features A teams representing their respective countries. During the 2025 edition, Jitesh Sharma captained the Indian side with young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also featuring in the squad.
Which venues will host the tournament matches?
West End Park International Cricket Stadium will serve as the primary venue, staging several matches including the tournament’s final on November 29th. The remaining fixtures will be played at the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) Cricket Ground which will host the opening match on November 19th.
| Date | Fixture | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 November, Thursday | Bangladesh vs Hong Kong | 9:00 AM | UDST |
| 19 November, Thursday | Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan | 1:00 PM | WEICS |
| 20 November, Friday | Pakistan vs UAE | 9:00 AM | UDST |
| 20 November, Friday | India vs Nepal | 1:00 PM | WEICS |
| 21 November, Saturday | Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong | 9:00 AM | UDST |
| 21 November, Saturday | Bangladesh vs Afghanistan | 1:00 PM | WEICS |
| 22 November, Sunday | UAE vs Nepal | 9:00 AM | UDST |
| 22 November, Sunday | India vs Pakistan | 1:00 PM | WEICS |
| 23 November, Monday | Afghanistan vs Hong Kong | 9:00 AM | UDST |
| 23 November, Monday | Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh | 1:00 PM | WEICS |
| 24 November, Tuesday | India vs UAE | 9:00 AM | UDST |
| 24 November, Tuesday | Pakistan vs Nepal | 1:00 PM | WEICS |
| 26 November, Thursday | Semi-Final 1 (A1 vs B2) | 1:00 PM | WEICS |
| 27 November, Friday | Semi-Final 2 (B1 vs A2) | 1:00 PM | WEICS |
| 29 November, Sunday | Final | 1:00 PM | WEICS |
How did India A perform in the group stage of the 2025 edition?
India A made a dominant start to their 2025 Rising Asia Cup campaign in Doha registering a commanding 148 runs win over the UAE in their first Group B encounter. After being put into bat, the Indian side posted an imposing 297/4 in 20 overs and then held the UAE to 149/7 to seal a comprehensive victory.
However, their momentum was halted in the following game against Pakistan A as India were dismissed for 136 runs and went on to suffer an eight wickets defeat. Pakistan comfortably completed the chase in just 13.2 overs.
India A recovered from the setback in their final group match against Oman earning a six wickets win with 13 deliveries remaining. The crucial result secured their place in the semifinals where they took on Bangladesh A.
How did the knockout stage unfold for India A and Pakistan A?
India A’s semi-final against Bangladesh A turned into a thrilling contest with neither side able to establish a decisive advantage. Bangladesh finished their 20 overs at 194/6 and India managed to level the score sending the match into a Super Over. Bangladesh proved more effective under pressure in the decider knocking India A out of the tournament.
Pakistan A subsequently lifted the trophy after overcoming Sri Lanka A by five runs in the other semifinal. The title clash against Bangladesh A was equally dramatic as both teams ended their innings on 125 runs. Pakistan A then emerged victorious in the Super Over to secure the championship while India A’s journey came to an end before the final despite an encouraging overall performance.