Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 Teams and Squads – Complete Player List
Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 teams and squads are attracting attention as eight teams prepare to compete in the upcoming tournament in Doha, Qatar. The competition will feature emerging players from some of Asia’s strongest cricketing nations, along with senior national teams from the UAE, Nepal and Hong Kong, China.
The tournament will be played from November 19 to November 29, 2026, in the 50-over format. Pakistan Shaheens, India A, Bangladesh A, Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A will represent their countries, while Nepal, UAE and Hong Kong, China, will also compete for the title.
In this article, you can find the available player lists, team captains and important squad details for all eight participating teams.
Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 Teams and Squads
A total of eight teams have been divided into two groups. Some cricket boards have already announced their squads, while a few teams are yet to publish their final player lists.
Here is the current squad information for each participating team.
Group A Teams
Group A includes Bangladesh A, Sri Lanka A, Afghanistan A and Hong Kong, China.
1. Bangladesh A Squad
Bangladesh A have announced a 19-member preliminary squad for the tournament. The team includes several players with international experience, giving Bangladesh a mix of young talent and experienced performers.
Bangladesh A preliminary squad:
- Mohammad Naim
- Mahmudul Hasan Joy
- Iftakhar Hossain Ifti
- Shahadat Hossain Dipu
- Yasir Ali Chowdhury
- Sabbir Rahman
- Parvez Hossain Emon
- Irfan Shukkur
- Samiun Basir Ratul
- Rakibul Hasan
- Md Rubel
- Ripon Mandol
- Iqbal Hossain Emon
- Chowdhury MD Rizwan
- Mohammad Saifuddin
- Zakir Hasan
- Afif Hossain Dhrubo
- S M Meherob Hasan
- Aminul Islam Biplob
This is a preliminary list, so changes may be made before the tournament begins. Bangladesh A will compete in Group A against Sri Lanka A, Afghanistan A and Hong Kong, China.
2. Sri Lanka A Squad
Sri Lanka A are also part of Group A. The team will look to compete strongly against the other emerging sides in the tournament.
As of November 7, the final Sri Lanka A squad has not been confirmed in the available official announcements. The complete player list and captain details will be added once the Sri Lanka Cricket Board publishes the squad.
3. Afghanistan A Squad
The Afghanistan Cricket Board has announced its 15-member squad for the Rising Stars Asia Cup 2026. Ikram Alikhil will lead the team as captain and wicketkeeper.
Afghanistan A squad:
- Ikram Alikhil (Captain and Wicketkeeper)
- Mohammad Ishaq (Wicketkeeper)
- Hassan Eisakhil
- Imran Mir
- Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai
- Darwish Rasooli
- Faisal Khan Shinozada
- Baheer Shah Mahbooob
- Farmanullah Safi
- Qais Ahmad
- Naseer Khan Maroofkhil
- AM Ghazanfar
- Bilal Sami
- Bashir Ahmad
- Naveed Zadran
Reserve players:
- Abdullah Tarakhil
- Khalid Taniwal
- Izharulhaq Naveed
Afghanistan have included a combination of batting talent, spin options and fast bowlers. Players such as Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, AM Ghazanfar, Qais Ahmad and Bilal Sami will be among the names to watch.
4. Hong Kong, China Squad
Hong Kong, China, will compete in Group A alongside Bangladesh A, Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A. The team’s final squad for the 2026 tournament has not yet been confirmed in the available official announcements. We will update this section when the official player list becomes available.
Group B Teams
Group B features Pakistan Shaheens, India A, Nepal and the United Arab Emirates. This group includes the much-anticipated match between Pakistan Shaheens and India A.
5. Pakistan Shaheens Squad
Pakistan Shaheens will enter the tournament as defending champions. The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced a 15-member squad, with Abdul Samad appointed as captain.
Pakistan Shaheens squad:
- Abdul Samad (Captain)
- Ahmed Daniyal
- Akif Javed
- Danish Aziz
- Farhan Yousuf
- Haider Ali
- Hasan Nawaz
- Maaz Sadaqat
- Mohammad Hasnain
- Muhammad Imran Randhawa
- Rohail Nazir (Wicketkeeper)
- Saad Masood
- Shahzaib Khan
- Shamyl Hussain
- Sufyan Moqim
The squad includes a strong batting group, several all-round options and a mix of spin and pace bowlers. Mohammad Hasnain will be an important part of the fast-bowling attack, while Rohail Nazir is the designated wicketkeeper.
Pakistan Shaheens will face the UAE, India A and Nepal during the group stage.
6. India A Squad
India A have selected a 15-member squad for the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026. Tilak Varma will captain the side, while Rajat Patidar has been named vice-captain.
India A squad:
- Abhishek Sharma
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
- Prabhsimran Singh (Wicketkeeper)
- Tilak Varma (Captain)
- Rajat Patidar (Vice-Captain)
- Rinku Singh
- Kumar Kushagra (Wicketkeeper)
- Suryansh Shedge
- Shahbaz Ahmed
- Vipraj Nigam
- Harsh Dubey
- Tanush Kotian
- Harshit Rana
- Prince Yadav
- Arshad Khan
India A have selected a balanced squad with experienced domestic performers and young players. Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Rinku Singh and Tilak Varma are some of the notable names in the team.
India A will face Nepal, Pakistan Shaheens and the UAE in Group B.
7. Nepal Squad
Nepal have qualified for the tournament and will compete in Group B. They will face India A, Pakistan Shaheens and the UAE during the group stage.
The final Nepal squad and captain details have not yet been confirmed in the official announcements available as of November 7, 2026. The player list will be added after the official announcement.
8. United Arab Emirates (UAE) Squad
The United Arab Emirates will also compete in Group B. Unlike the A teams from some Full Member countries, the UAE will participate with its senior national side.
The final UAE player list has not yet been confirmed in the available official announcements. We will update this section when the Emirates Cricket Board releases the squad.
Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 Groups
The eight participating teams have been divided into two groups for the first stage of the competition.
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| Bangladesh A | Pakistan Shaheens |
| Sri Lanka A | India A |
| Afghanistan A | Nepal |
| Hong Kong, China | United Arab Emirates |
Each team will play the other teams in its group. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals.
Players to Watch in the Tournament
Several well-known emerging players will be part of the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 teams and squads. These players could play important roles for their respective sides.
Some names worth following include:
- Abhishek Sharma (India A): An attacking batter known for his aggressive approach.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (India A): A young batter attracting attention for his performances.
- Tilak Varma (India A): The team’s captain and an experienced batter.
- Abdul Samad (Pakistan Shaheens): Captain of the defending champions.
- Mohammad Hasnain (Pakistan Shaheens): A fast bowler who brings pace to the attack.
- Ikram Alikhil (Afghanistan A): Captain and wicketkeeper of the Afghanistan side.
- AM Ghazanfar (Afghanistan A): A spin-bowling option in the squad.
- Afif Hossain (Bangladesh A): An experienced all-round option for Bangladesh.
Final Words
The Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 will give emerging cricketers an opportunity to represent their teams in a major regional competition. With Pakistan Shaheens and India A placed in the same group, fans will be especially interested in their meeting.
The Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 teams and squads will become clearer as the remaining cricket boards announce their final player lists. We will update this article with confirmed squad changes and additional player details as they become available.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many teams are playing in the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026?
- Eight teams will participate in the tournament, divided into two groups of four.
- When will the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 begin?
- The tournament is scheduled to begin on November 19, 2026, in Doha, Qatar.
- Who is the captain of Pakistan Shaheens?
- Abdul Samad has been appointed captain of Pakistan Shaheens for the tournament.
- Who is the captain of India A?
- Tilak Varma will lead India A, with Rajat Patidar serving as vice-captain.
- Which group includes Pakistan and India A?
- Pakistan Shaheens and India A are both placed in Group B, alongside Nepal and the United Arab Emirates.
- Where can I check the latest squad updates?
- You can follow this page for updated player lists and squad announcements as the tournament approaches. You can also visit our [Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 Fixtures and Schedule] page for match dates and timings.
