India 'A' drawn with Pakistan 'A' in ACC Asia Cup Rising Stars, open vs Nepal
Synopsis
India 'A' and Pakistan 'A' have been drawn into the same group at the ACC Men's Asia Cup Rising Stars in Doha, with their marquee clash set for 22 November. Defending champions Pakistan 'A' and a competitive India 'A' side sharing Group B means the group stage itself could feel like a final.
Key Takeaways
India 'A' are in Group B with Pakistan 'A' , Nepal , and the UAE at the ACC Men's Asia Cup Rising Stars in Doha .
Tournament runs from 19 to 29 November , hosted by the Qatar Cricket Association (QCA) .
India 'A' open vs Nepal on 20 November , face Pakistan 'A' on 22 November , and meet the UAE on 24 November .
Top two from each group advance to semi-finals on 26 and 27 November ; final on 29 November .
India 'A' matches against Nepal and the UAE carry official List A status ; Nepal vs UAE will be an official ODI .
Defending champions Pakistan 'A' (Pakistan Shaheens) won last year's Doha edition, beating Bangladesh 'A' in a Super Over final.
India 'A' have been placed in Group B alongside arch-rivals Pakistan 'A' for the ACC Men's Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament, scheduled in Doha from 19 to 29 November. Nepal and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) complete Group B, setting up what promises to be a high-stakes group stage featuring one of cricket's most anticipated rivalries.
India 'A' Schedule in Group B
India 'A' will open their campaign against Nepal on 20 November at 1 pm local time, before squaring off against the UAE on 24 November at 9 am local time. The marquee India 'A' vs Pakistan 'A' clash is set for 22 November at 1 pm local time. Meanwhile, Pakistan 'A' will face the UAE on 20 November and take on Nepal on 24 November, with Nepal and the UAE meeting each other on 22 November.
Group A and Tournament Format
Group A comprises Sri Lanka 'A', Bangladesh 'A', Afghanistan 'A', and Hong Kong, China. All eight teams will contest a single round-robin within their respective groups. The top two from each group will advance to the semi-finals, to be played on 26 and 27 November, with the final scheduled for 29 November.
Venues and Hosts
The tournament will be hosted by the Qatar Cricket Association (QCA), with matches at the West End International Cricket Stadium and the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) ground. Notably, Doha also staged last year's edition, where Pakistan 'A' — also known as the Pakistan Shaheens — claimed the title after edging past Bangladesh 'A' in a Super Over in the final.
List A Status and Associate Teams
Nepal, Hong Kong, China, and the UAE earned their places through the ACC Men's Premier Cup held in Malaysia in July, and all three Associate teams will field their senior national sides. All matches between Nepal or the UAE and any Full Member 'A' team will carry official List A status. This means India 'A' fixtures against Nepal and the UAE will count as List A games, while the Nepal vs UAE contest will carry official ODI status. The status of Hong Kong and China's matches against 'A' sides remains subject to ACC approval.
With defending champions Pakistan 'A' and a motivated India 'A' side sharing the same group, the tournament's group stage already carries the weight of a knockout event — and the contest on 22 November will be the one to watch.
Point of View
But the fixture list also reveals a structural advantage: India play Nepal first, giving them a warm-up before the high-pressure 22 November clash. The tournament's List A status for Associate-team games adds a layer of credibility — young Indian and Pakistani cricketers will be padding official records, not just playing friendlies. What mainstream coverage tends to overlook is the broader ACC context: with the qualifier pathway now funnelling Associate teams through the Premier Cup, the Rising Stars format is quietly becoming a meaningful tier in Asian cricket's development ecosystem, not merely an India-Pakistan sideshow.
NationPress
24 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the ACC Men's Asia Cup Rising Stars 2024 tournament?
The ACC Men's Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament is scheduled from 19 to 29 November in Doha, Qatar , hosted by the Qatar Cricket Association. Matches will be played at the West End International Cricket Stadium and the UDST ground.
Which group is India 'A' in, and who are their opponents?
India 'A' are in Group B alongside Pakistan 'A' , Nepal , and the UAE . They open against Nepal on 20 November, face Pakistan 'A' on 22 November, and play the UAE on 24 November.
What is the format of the ACC Men's Asia Cup Rising Stars?
Eight teams are split into two groups of four and play a single round-robin within their groups. The top two from each group qualify for the semi-finals on 26 and 27 November, with the final on 29 November.
Do India 'A' matches in the tournament have official List A status?
India 'A' fixtures against Nepal and the UAE will carry official List A status . The match between Nepal and the UAE will count as an official ODI. The status of Hong Kong and China's games against 'A' sides is subject to ACC approval.
Who won the previous edition of the Asia Cup Rising Stars held in Doha?
Pakistan 'A' , also known as the Pakistan Shaheens, won last year's edition in Doha, defeating Bangladesh 'A' in a Super Over in the final. They enter this edition as defending champions from the same venue.
