Pakistan Shaheens will defend their 50-over title at the ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026, an eight-team tournament scheduled in Qatar from 19 to 29 November. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has named a 15-player squad led by Abdul Samad, with the Shaheens drawn in Group B alongside India A, Nepal and the United Arab Emirates.
For fans planning to follow the tournament, the key dates are the three group matches on 20, 22 and 24 November. Pakistan’s meeting with India A is scheduled for 22 November at 3pm Pakistan time.
Pakistan Shaheens fixtures in Pakistan Standard Time
| Date | Match or stage | Start time (PKT) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 November | Pakistan Shaheens vs UAE | 11:00am | University of Doha for Science and Technology Ground |
| 22 November | Pakistan Shaheens vs India A | 3:00pm | West End Park International Cricket Stadium |
| 24 November | Pakistan Shaheens vs Nepal | 3:00pm | West End Park International Cricket Stadium |
| 26 November | First semi-final | 3:00pm | West End Park International Cricket Stadium |
| 27 November | Second semi-final | 3:00pm | West End Park International Cricket Stadium |
| 29 November | Final | 3:00pm | West End Park International Cricket Stadium |
The opening Pakistan fixture is a daytime match at the University of Doha for Science and Technology Ground. The PCB says the Shaheens’ remaining group matches and the knockout fixtures are scheduled at West End Park International Cricket Stadium. Match times above are the Pakistan Standard Time conversions published by the PCB.
Pakistan Shaheens’ 15-member 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
How the groups are arranged
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan A | Pakistan Shaheens |
| Bangladesh A | India A |
| Hong Kong China | Nepal |
| Sri Lanka A | United Arab Emirates |
The tournament brings together development teams rather than the full senior national sides. Pakistan’s group matches against UAE, India A and Nepal will give the Shaheens three different tests before the knockout stage. The PCB’s announcement lists the semi-finals on 26 and 27 November and the final on 29 November. This is a separate event from the Under-19 Asia Cup in Oman; see our Pakistan vs India U19 match preview for the 8 November fixture.
Players and roles to watch
Abdul Samad has been named captain. The batting group includes Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Haider Ali, Shahzaib Khan, Farhan Yousuf and Shamyl Hussain, while Rohail Nazir is the designated wicketkeeper.
The spin options include Danish Aziz, Saad Masood and Sufyan Moqim. The pace group features Mohammad Hasnain, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed and Muhammad Imran Randhawa. This combination gives the squad several bowling options, although the final playing XI for each match will depend on conditions and team selection.
Maaz Sadaqat and Hasan Nawaz are among the names that have attracted attention after recent performances for Pakistan’s emerging and senior white-ball sides. Their selection is a squad fact; it does not guarantee a starting place in every match.
Pakistan’s record in the Rising Stars competition
The PCB describes Pakistan Shaheens as defending champions of both the T20 and 50-over editions. Pakistan won the previous 50-over edition in 2023, defeating India A by 128 runs in the final. The most recent edition before this tournament used the T20 format, with Pakistan Shaheens beating Bangladesh A in a final decided by a Super Over in 2025.
The 2026 event returns to the 50-over format. That makes it a different competition from the previous T20 edition, so fans should not compare the fixtures or match duration as if the formats were identical.
Is the tournament on television or online?
The PCB squad announcement provides the fixtures and venues but does not specify a confirmed Pakistani television broadcaster or streaming platform. Viewers should wait for an official broadcast announcement from the PCB or the Asian Cricket Council rather than rely on unofficial links or unverified social media posts.
Ticketing details for matches in Qatar were also not included in the squad announcement. Fans planning to attend should confirm entry arrangements with the tournament organisers before travelling.
What Pakistan fans should remember
- The tournament is a 50-over event, not a senior Pakistan men’s ODI series.
- Pakistan Shaheens open against UAE on 20 November at 11am PKT.
- The group match against India A is on 22 November at 3pm PKT.
- The final is scheduled for 29 November at 3pm PKT.
- Broadcast and ticket information should be treated as unconfirmed until officially announced.
Pakistan’s senior team also has a home Test series against Sri Lanka in November. Fans following both competitions can check Verity Pakistan’s Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Test series schedule for the Rawalpindi and Lahore fixtures.
Official squad and fixture announcement: Pakistan Cricket Board.
Featured image: Illustrative cricket match photograph by Srinivas Silwer/Unsplash; it is not a photograph of the Pakistan Shaheens squad or a Qatar tournament match.