Rising Asia Cup 2026: Full Schedule, Groups and Final in Doha

The Rising Asia Cup 2026, also known as the Asia Cup Rising Stars, brings eight teams to Doha from 19 to 29 November 2026. The tournament gives emerging talent a big stage, with A sides from five full member nations and the best available sides from three associate nations. Fans can follow a packed group stage, two semi-finals and a final, all played in Doha.

Eight teams are split into two groups of four. Group A brings together Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Hong Kong, while Group B brings together India, Pakistan, Nepal and the United Arab Emirates. Pakistan A arrive as the defending champions after winning last year, and that title gives the group stage an extra edge from the first match.

Squads are not announced yet, so fans will watch for team news as the tournament draws closer. No squad list is included in this guide, because no official squad has been confirmed. The full fixture list below gives readers every group match, the semi-final dates and the final date in one place.

Group Stage Fixtures

The group stage opens on 19 November with Bangladesh against Hong Kong at UDST and Sri Lanka against Afghanistan at West End Park International Cricket Stadium. On 20 November, Pakistan face the United Arab Emirates at UDST and India face Nepal at West End Park. The action continues on 21 November with Sri Lanka against Hong Kong at UDST and Bangladesh against Afghanistan at West End Park, giving every group a fast start.

The biggest group match arrives on 22 November, when India face Pakistan at West End Park, while the United Arab Emirates face Nepal at UDST on the same day. On 23 November, Afghanistan meet Hong Kong at UDST and Sri Lanka meet Bangladesh at West End Park. The group stage closes on 24 November with India against the United Arab Emirates at UDST and Pakistan against Nepal at West End Park.

The Two Groups

Group A brings together Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Hong Kong, while Group B brings together India, Pakistan, Nepal and the United Arab Emirates. Group A mixes the A sides of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan with the best available side from Hong Kong. Group B brings defending champions Pakistan A together with India, Nepal and the United Arab Emirates, a group packed with rivalry and pace.

The India against Pakistan match on 22 November stands out as the biggest group fixture, and it will draw the widest attention of the group stage. Fans will also watch how Nepal and the United Arab Emirates test the A sides, because a single upset can change the shape of a group. With only three group matches for each team, a slow start leaves little room to recover before the semi-finals.

Knockouts And The Final

The semi-finals take place on 26 and 27 November at West End Park, where the best group stage sides fight for a place in the final. A semi-final in a short tournament brings high pressure, because one poor day can end a strong group stage run. Teams that reach this stage will need calm batting, sharp bowling and clean fielding to keep the title dream alive.

The final is set for 29 November at West End Park, and it will crown the Rising Asia Cup 2026 champions in Doha. Pakistan A arrive as defending champions, so every challenger will want to take the title from them in the final. Fans can expect a loud and tense finish, with young talent on show and a trophy decided on the biggest stage of the tournament.

Tournament At A Glance

The table below brings the key details together for readers following the tournament. It shows the dates, the venues, the groups and the final, so fans can check the essentials in one place before the first ball.

FAQ