LAHORE: Defending champions Pakistan Shaheens will aim to retain their title at the ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars Championship 2026 with an exciting 15-member squad led by emerging middle-order batter Abdul Samad, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Tuesday.
Abdul Samad to lead Pakistan Shaheens squad for ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 📢
The tournament will be held in Qatar from 19 to 29 November 🏏
#PakistanCricket | #RisingStarsAsiaCup https://t.co/yH8kRLow4Z
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 3, 2026
The eight-team competition will be held in Doha, Qatar, from November 19 to 29, with Pakistan placed in Group B alongside traditional rivals India, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Nepal.
Samad will lead a squad featuring a combination of promising young batters and experienced performers as the Shaheens prepare for their title defence.
Read Also: Pakistan Shaheens, India A On Course to Rising Stars Asia Cup Final
Balanced batting and bowling line-up
The batting unit includes Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Haider Ali, Shahzaib Khan, Farhan Yousuf and Shamyl Hussain, while Rohail Nazir has been selected as the wicketkeeper.
Right-arm fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain will lead the pace attack, which also features Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed and Muhammad Imran Randhawa.
The spin department comprises left-arm all-rounder Danish Aziz, leg-spinner Saad Masood and Sufyan Moqim.
Read Also: Pakistan Shaheens Down Bangladesh A to Lift Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 in Super Over Thriller
Pakistan’s road to the semi-finals
Pakistan will launch their campaign against the UAE on November 20 before taking on arch-rivals India on November 22. Their final group-stage fixture will be against Nepal on November 24.
According to the tournament format, the top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals, scheduled for November 26 and 27, respectively. The tournament final will be played on November 29.
Abdul Samad will captain the Pakistan Shaheens at the ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars in Qatar, 19-29 November! 🏏📢
#PakistanShaheens #AbdulSamad #AsiaCupRisingStars #Cricket https://t.co/gfCtTHKuvL
— Cric Insider (@cricinsider10) November 3, 2026
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 and Sufyan Moqim.
