Key Takeaways
- The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed the squad on November 3, placing Samad in charge of an eight-team competition that runs through November 29.
- The seven-player batting group includes the captain, although Maaz Sadaqat can also contribute left-arm spin.
- Pakistan will play three Group B matches, beginning with UAE before facing India A and Nepal.
- Pakistan Shaheens and India A will meet on November 22 in a fixture that brings together two teams with strong tournament ambitions.
LAHORE, Pakistan, November 3, 2026: Abdul Samad has been handed the captaincy of Pakistan Shaheens for the 2026 ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars, with the defending champions naming a 15-member squad that blends international experience with some of Pakistan’s most promising young cricketers. The 50-over tournament begins in Qatar on November 19, and Pakistan’s title defense starts against the United Arab Emirates on November 20, followed by a potentially decisive encounter with India A two days later.
The selection brings together Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Hasnain, Haider Ali and Maaz Sadaqat, while retaining several players who helped Pakistan win the 2025 T20 edition. That continuity gives Samad an encouraging starting point, but the longer format presents a different challenge. Pakistan must now demonstrate the patience, bowling discipline and batting depth needed to defend the 50-over crown they won against India A in 2023.
Pakistan Shaheens’ Asia Cup 2026 Squad at a Glance
The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed the squad on November 3, placing Samad in charge of an eight-team competition that runs through November 29.
Story at a glance
Pakistan Shaheens’ Asia Cup 2026 Squad at a Glance
The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed the squad on November 3, placing Samad in charge of an eight-team competition that runs through November 29.
Why Abdul Samad’s Captaincy Is an Important Decision
Samad inherits a side accustomed to winning this competition, but his responsibility extends beyond managing experienced international players. He must help the selectors determine how aggressively Pakistan should approach a format that rewards sustained partnerships and bowling control.
Maaz Sadaqat Returns With a Point to Prove in 50-Over Cricket
Maaz Sadaqat is one of the squad’s most compelling selections because he already knows what it takes to dominate this event.
Pakistan Shaheens’ Confirmed Rising Stars Asia Cup 2026 Fixtures
Pakistan will play three Group B matches, beginning with UAE before facing India A and Nepal.
Pakistan vs India A: A Rematch With More Than Historical Significance
Pakistan Shaheens and India A will meet on November 22 in a fixture that brings together two teams with strong tournament ambitions.
| Category | Selected Players | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Captain and batting options | Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz, Haider Ali, Maaz Sadaqat, Shahzaib Khan, Farhan Yousuf, Shamyl Hussain | 7 |
| Wicketkeeper | Rohail Nazir | 1 |
| Spin and spin-bowling all-round options | Danish Aziz, Saad Masood, Sufyan Moqim | 3 |
| Fast-bowling options | Mohammad Hasnain, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Muhammad Imran Randhawa | 4 |
| Total | Pakistan Shaheens squad | 15 |
The seven-player batting group includes the captain, although Maaz Sadaqat can also contribute left-arm spin. Danish Aziz and Saad Masood add further all-round possibilities. Those overlapping roles could help Pakistan balance six or seven batting options against the need for sufficient specialist bowling across 50 overs.
Rohail Nazir is the squad’s designated wicketkeeper, leaving his availability and performance particularly important to Pakistan’s planning.
Why Abdul Samad’s Captaincy Is an Important Decision
Samad inherits a side accustomed to winning this competition, but his responsibility extends beyond managing experienced international players. He must help the selectors determine how aggressively Pakistan should approach a format that rewards sustained partnerships and bowling control.
His selection comes after his involvement with Pakistan’s senior international setup. He was also appointed vice-captain for Pakistan’s men’s Asian Games squad earlier in 2026, providing another indication that the national selectors have considered him for leadership responsibilities.
For Samad, the opening encounter with UAE will offer an opportunity to establish the team’s preferred batting order, bowling combinations and approach to the middle overs before the higher-profile India A fixture.
His greatest challenge may be deciding how to use a squad containing several players whose recent reputation has been built around attacking T20 cricket. Early aggression can produce an advantage in one-day matches, but protecting wickets and managing the remaining overs are equally important.
Maaz Sadaqat Returns With a Point to Prove in 50-Over Cricket
Maaz Sadaqat is one of the squad’s most compelling selections because he already knows what it takes to dominate this event.
The left-handed batter was named Player of the Tournament in the 2025 T20 Rising Stars Asia Cup after scoring 258 runs in five innings. He averaged 129.00, maintained a strike rate of 177.93 and struck 19 sixes. He also contributed seven wickets with his left-arm spin.
Those figures are impressive, although they describe a T20 tournament rather than his expected output in the upcoming one-day competition.
As examined in The Sports Encounter’s detailed profile of Maaz Sadaqat, his performances have combined considerable attacking ability with periods of inconsistency.
His explosive century in the CPL 2026 Eliminator against Barbados demonstrated his ability to seize a major occasion. He followed that innings with 41 from 17 balls as Jamaica advanced through Qualifier 2 against Guyana.
Those performances strengthened his reputation as a dangerous white-ball batter. Now comes a different test: can he turn that aggressive approach into substantial 50-over innings without surrendering the initiative?
What the 2025 Title-Winning Statistics Reveal
Official PCB tournament records show why Pakistan have retained important elements of their previous championship-winning combination.
| Player | 2025 T20 Rising Stars Performance | 2026 Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Maaz Sadaqat | 258 runs in five innings; seven wickets | Major batting option and additional left-arm spin |
| Sufyan Moqim | 10 wickets in four matches | Attacking wrist-spin option |
| Saad Masood | 79 runs and eight wickets in four matches | Lower-order batting and leg-spin balance |
| Ahmed Daniyal | Six wickets in five matches; Player of the Match in the final | Experienced pace option with knockout success |
Source: PCB’s official 2025 Rising Stars batting and bowling records. Figures are from the T20 edition and should not be treated as ODI projections.
The four returning players listed above combined for 31 wickets during the 2025 tournament. This is a TSE calculation using seven for Sadaqat, ten for Sufyan, eight for Saad and six for Daniyal.
That number offers a more interesting perspective than batting reputations alone. Pakistan are returning a significant portion of their successful T20 bowling resources, although their effectiveness over ten-over individual spells and longer batting innings remains to be established.
Hasan Nawaz and Mohammad Hasnain Give Pakistan Valuable Experience
Hasan Nawaz Must Balance Aggression With Batting Responsibility
Hasan Nawaz has already demonstrated that he can adjust his approach to the demands of one-day cricket.
During Pakistan’s recent ODI tri-series against Sri Lanka, he contributed an unbeaten 37 as Pakistan completed a historic 326-run chase in the final.
His partnership with Arafat Minhas was an important phase of that victory, as documented in The Sports Encounter’s detailed report on the Lahore final.
Earlier in the same tournament, Hasan contributed another 37 during Salman Ali Agha’s century against Sri Lanka. Our analysis of that partnership explains how Pakistan recovered from 118/4 to post a competitive total.
Both innings provide useful evidence of a player capable of contributing without relying exclusively on boundary hitting.
For Pakistan Shaheens, Hasan could play an important role in stabilizing the innings if an attacking top order loses early wickets.
Mohammad Hasnain Leads a Four-Man Pace Group
Mohammad Hasnain brings senior international experience to a fast-bowling unit containing Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed and Muhammad Imran Randhawa.
Hasnain’s presence gives Samad an established pace option, while Daniyal offers the confidence of having delivered in a previous tournament final.
Akif’s left-arm angle provides another variation. Randhawa completes a four-man pace group whose selection gives Pakistan several possible combinations depending on conditions and batting requirements.
The challenge is determining when to use attacking fields, how to protect the middle overs and which bowlers are best suited to the final ten overs of an innings.
For context, the importance of bowling support alongside younger match-winners has also been evident in Pakistan’s senior ODI team. Our report on Arafat Minhas’ six-wicket performance against England illustrates how one decisive spell can transform a contest after a competitive batting effort.
Pakistan Shaheens’ Confirmed Rising Stars Asia Cup 2026 Fixtures
Pakistan will play three Group B matches, beginning with UAE before facing India A and Nepal.
| Date | Opponent | Start Time (PKT) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 20 | UAE | 11:00 AM | University of Doha for Science and Technology |
| November 22 | India A | 3:00 PM | West End Park International Cricket Stadium |
| November 24 | Nepal | 3:00 PM | West End Park International Cricket Stadium |
| November 26 | First semifinal | 3:00 PM | West End Park International Cricket Stadium |
| November 27 | Second semifinal | 3:00 PM | West End Park International Cricket Stadium |
| November 29 | Final | 3:00 PM | West End Park International Cricket Stadium |
Source: Pakistan Cricket Board, November 3, 2026. Knockout participation remains conditional on qualification. All times are Pakistan Standard Time.
The UAE fixture is Pakistan’s only scheduled daytime group encounter. Matches against India A and Nepal are scheduled under lights.
The November 24 match against Nepal is particularly important because it closes Pakistan’s group campaign. By then, the standings may determine whether Pakistan need a victory, a favorable result elsewhere or a particular net run rate to progress.
Pakistan vs India A: A Rematch With More Than Historical Significance
Pakistan Shaheens and India A will meet on November 22 in a fixture that brings together two teams with strong tournament ambitions.
Pakistan defeated India A by 128 runs in the 2023 50-over final in Colombo. That result established the Shaheens as defending champions of the one-day version of the competition.
India A have named Tilak Varma as captain and Rajat Patidar as vice-captain for the 2026 tournament.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s official squad announcement also includes Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Rinku Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Harshit Rana and several other recognized players.
That selection suggests India A will bring substantial batting options and bowling variety to Qatar.
Pakistan, meanwhile, have the advantage of returning players familiar with the demands of this competition.
The contrast creates an intriguing contest: India A’s collection of established white-ball names against Pakistan’s experienced Shaheens core and recent title-winning continuity.
Neither reputation nor the 2023 result determines what will happen on November 22. Pakistan must first negotiate UAE, while India A open against Nepal.
How Can Pakistan Shaheens Qualify for the Semifinals?
The tournament contains two groups of four teams. Each team plays the other three members of its group, and the top two advance to the semifinals.
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan A | Pakistan Shaheens |
| Bangladesh A | India A |
| Sri Lanka A | United Arab Emirates |
| Hong Kong, China | Nepal |
This structure gives every team three opportunities to collect group-stage victories. With only two qualification places available in each group, dropped points could become decisive.
Pakistan’s Possible Qualification Scenarios
| Group-Stage Record | Qualification Position | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Three wins | Guaranteed qualification | Pakistan would finish in the top two of a four-team round-robin group. |
| Two wins, one defeat | Strong but not mathematically guaranteed | A three-team tie on two wins is possible; applicable tiebreakers could matter. |
| One win, two defeats | Still mathematically possible | Pakistan would need other results and applicable tiebreakers to favor them. |
| Three defeats | Eliminated | Pakistan could not finish in the top two on wins. |
Scenario analysis based on the confirmed four-team, top-two qualification format. The tournament’s detailed tiebreaker regulations have not been independently established here, so no specific net-run-rate qualification threshold is presented as official.
The important distinction is that winning two group matches does not automatically guarantee qualification. If three teams each finish with two wins, their final order must be decided by the competition’s applicable tiebreakers.
Pakistan would therefore benefit from treating the opening UAE fixture as a genuine competitive test rather than merely preparation for India A.
Should Pakistan qualify, their semifinal opponent will come from Group A under the tournament’s cross-group progression. The exact matchup and route to the final remain conditional on group positions and the confirmed knockout bracket.
Pakistan’s Rising Stars History: Why This Title Defense Carries Weight
Pakistan’s recent success in this competition has created a strong record across both the 50-over and T20 formats.
The Shaheens finished runners-up in 2013 and 2017 before claiming the title in 2019. They defended their standing in the 50-over format with the 2023 victory over India A, then won the 2025 T20 tournament after a dramatic final against Bangladesh A.
The PCB’s official report of the 2025 final records a tied match at 125 runs each, followed by Pakistan’s victory in the Super Over.
Ahmed Daniyal was named Player of the Match after taking two wickets in that decisive Super Over, while Saad Masood struck the boundary that helped Pakistan reach the target.
That combination of bowling composure and lower-order contribution is valuable historical evidence for the current selection.
Pakistan are attempting to retain the 50-over trophy and enter the tournament as champions of the most recent T20 edition. Those are separate achievements, even though both belong to the same broader Rising Stars competition.
What Does This Selection Say About Pakistan’s White-Ball Future?
For Pakistan, the tournament’s importance extends beyond another trophy.
Selectors have brought together players with established international exposure and younger cricketers seeking a more permanent place in the senior setup.
Hasan Nawaz has already played meaningful ODI innings. Mohammad Hasnain has international pace-bowling experience. Haider Ali brings further exposure, while Maaz Sadaqat is attempting to convert his considerable T20 progress into broader white-ball consistency.
The wider selection debate is familiar to followers of Pakistan cricket. Our earlier examination of Pakistani players winning franchise titles overseas questioned how such performances should influence national selection.
Similarly, Pakistan’s recent success in the ODI tri-series contributed to an improvement in the senior side’s position in the ICC ODI rankings. Those developments demonstrate the importance of combining youth with proven match-winning ability.
But the longer format also tests whether players can maintain their decision-making across different phases of an innings.
Our analysis of Pakistan’s changing ODI middle-order strength highlights the broader value of batting depth and adaptability.
That is where the Shaheens tournament could provide useful evidence for future senior selection decisions.
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Who is Pakistan Shaheens’ captain for the 2026 Rising Stars Asia Cup?
Abdul Samad will captain the 15-member Pakistan Shaheens squad in Qatar.
When does Pakistan play India A?
Pakistan Shaheens face India A on November 22, 2026, at West End Park International Cricket Stadium. The match is scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM Pakistan time.
Who are Pakistan’s other Group B opponents?
Pakistan will face the United Arab Emirates on November 20 and Nepal on November 24.
Is the 2026 Rising Stars Asia Cup a T20 or 50-over tournament?
The 2026 edition will be played in the 50-over format. The previous 2025 edition was contested in T20 cricket.
Who won the previous 50-over Rising Stars Asia Cup?
Pakistan Shaheens won the 2023 edition by defeating India A by 128 runs in the final in Colombo.
How many teams qualify for the semifinals?
Four teams qualify, with the top two from each group advancing to the semifinals on November 26 and 27.
When is the Rising Stars Asia Cup 2026 final?
The final is scheduled for Sunday, November 29, 2026, at West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Qatar.
Can Samad Turn Championship Experience Into Another 50-Over Triumph?
Pakistan Shaheens have enough experience and variety to enter the competition with legitimate title ambitions. Samad has recognized batting options, Hasnain leads a capable pace attack, and the returning 2025 champions provide valuable tournament continuity.
Yet the biggest question concerns how those resources will perform when innings last 50 overs rather than 20.
Maaz Sadaqat must demonstrate patience alongside his attacking instincts. Hasan Nawaz will be expected to bring the same match awareness he showed in the senior ODI tri-series. The spinners need to control lengthy middle-over passages, while the pace group must handle both the new ball and the closing stages.
The India A encounter will attract considerable attention, but the opening UAE fixture and final group meeting with Nepal could be just as important to qualification.
Pakistan’s recent tournament history gives Samad a strong inheritance. Whether he can build on it will depend less on reputation than on how effectively his players manage the demanding transitions of one-day cricket.
The first answers arrive in Qatar on November 20. For more developments across Pakistan and international cricket, follow The Sports Encounter’s cricket coverage.
