The stage is set for the Asia Cup Rising Stars Championship, but not without its share of drama, particularly concerning trophy presentations and the highly anticipated matchups between Indian and Pakistani teams.
PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi
According to a Cricbuzz report, the previous Asia Cup trophy, won by India, is still awaiting its formal presentation and reportedly remains with Mohsin Naqvi.
The newly rebranded Asia Cup Rising Stars Championship will feature eight nations: India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Oman, UAE, and Hong Kong. Notably, India and Pakistan have been drawn into the same group, promising another thrilling encounter.
The tournament, hosted in Doha, Qatar, from November 14 to 23, will showcase 15 T20 matches. While the five Asian Test-playing nations will field their ‘A’ teams, UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong will participate with their senior squads.
India and Pakistan will compete in a group that also includes Oman and UAE. The other group consists of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong, mirroring the format of the main Asia Cup.
The format bypasses the Super Four stage, meaning teams could potentially meet twice: once in the group stage and again in the final.
The top two teams from each group will progress to the semifinals, culminating in the final match on November 23.
Afghanistan holds the title as the defending champions, having defeated India A and Sri Lanka A in the semifinals and final, respectively, during the last edition held in Oman in October 2024.
Last year’s Indian squad boasted talents like Abhishek Sharma, Rahul Chahar, Prabhsimran Singh, Sai Kishore, and Anshul Kamboj, with Tilak Varma leading the charge.
For this year’s Rising Stars event, Vaibhav Suryavanshi is among the confirmed selections for the Indian team, with the full squad announcement from the BCCI expected soon.
Additionally, an Under-19 Asia Cup is slated for December. Although specific dates and venues are yet to be confirmed, the 50-over tournament is anticipated to take place within the Gulf region.
The question on everyone’s mind is whether Mohsin Naqvi will once again take it upon himself to present the trophies at both the upcoming Rising Stars and Under-19 Asia Cup events, adding another layer of intrigue to these competitions.