The inaugural Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 is set to begin on 14 November in Doha, marking a major new chapter in Asian cricket’s developmental pathway. Previously known as the Emerging Teams Asia Cup, the revamped tournament now carries a stronger identity and clearer purpose: to build a high-quality competitive environment for the next generation of elite cricketers across the continent. Qatar’s West-End International Cricket Stadium will host the entire event, running from 14 to 23 November, with a format designed to deliver intense, top-tier cricket almost every day.
Eight teams will compete: the A-sides from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, along with the senior national teams from UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong. The tournament structure reflects a blend of full-member depth squads and ambitious associate sides, all eager to test themselves in a condensed, pressurised schedule.
The teams have been divided into two groups. Group A features Afghanistan A, Bangladesh A, Sri Lanka A, and Hong Kong. Group B includes India A, Pakistan A, UAE, and Oman. This layout sets the stage for a series of high-quality clashes right from the start, with two matches scheduled each day from 14 to 19 November.
Opening day fixtures include Pakistan A vs Oman and India A vs UAE — matchups that should provide an early sense of how each squad has balanced youthful talent with experienced fringe players. But the most anticipated early match is the India A vs Pakistan A encounter, set for 16 November. Even at A-team level, the rivalry carries weight, and the Rising Stars format offers young players a rare chance to experience the pressure and spotlight that typically accompany the senior rivalry.
After the group stage, the top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals on 21 November, followed by the final on 23 November. The tight schedule ensures that momentum, squad depth, and adaptability will be as important as raw talent.
For full-member nations, the tournament provides crucial match practice for those on the verge of senior team selection — including young batters looking to break into ODI or Test setups and bowlers vying for national contracts. For associate nations, the value is even greater. Playing against A-team quality from top cricketing nations gives their rising stars exposure they rarely receive outside of tournament qualifiers.
The ACC aims to position this tournament as a long-term feeder platform for Asian cricket, ensuring that every cycle produces a fresh wave of high-calibre players prepared for the demands of international cricket. With the competition being broadcast widely, fans across Asia will be able to track the emergence of new talents and witness how different nations structure their future pipelines.
The Asia Cup Rising Stars may be a new event in name, but its ambitions are significant. If the first edition delivers the competitive balance, excitement, and player development opportunities expected of it, the tournament could quickly become one of the most important fixtures in the Asian cricket calendar.
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