Pakistan Shaheens Squad for Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026: Abdul Samad to Lead in Qatar

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a 15 member Pakistan Shaheens squad on 3 November 2026 for the ACC Men's Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026, a 50 over tournament for emerging players. Pakistan enter as defending champions. The tournament will be played in Doha, Qatar, from 19 to 29 November 2026, and Pakistan are placed in Group B alongside India A, Nepal and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Tournament coverage reports Pakistan face India A on 22 November.

Pakistan Shaheens 15 member squad

Abdul Samad (captain), Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Danish Aziz, Farhan Yousaf, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Imran, Rohail Nazir (wicketkeeper), Saad Masood, Shahzaib Khan, Shamyl Hussain and Sufyan Moqim. The squad is built largely around players who already have senior international experience: captain Abdul Samad has played six ODIs and eight T20Is, and the batting group includes Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Haider Ali and Shahzaib Khan.

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Group B and the India A fixture

Group B is the early test. India A are the traditional rivals in the group, Nepal and the UAE complete it, and the Pakistan versus India A match on 22 November is the group fixture every fan will circle first. For the Shaheens, the tournament is a pathway tournament in the truest sense: strong 50 over performances here are how emerging players press a claim for the senior side, and the defending champions tag means Pakistan start as the team the rest of the group measures itself against.

Why this squad matters

Pakistan's recent senior rebuilding debate has centred on finding batters and bowlers who can hold a place, not just flash in one game. A 50 over event in Qatar gives this group a longer format test than a T20 cameo: building innings, bowling ten over spells and fielding through a full day. That is the context in which Samad's captaincy will be judged, and why the selectors have leaned on players with senior exposure rather than a purely developmental side.

Related: Pakistan Seal Sri Lanka T20I Series 2-1 as Farhan Wins First Series as Captain and Kusal Mendis's Unbeaten 87 Ends Pakistan's Whitewash Bid as Sri Lanka Win 3rd T20I by 8 Wickets.

Related: Mohammad Rizwan Hits Unbeaten 200 in Quaid-e-Azam Trophy After England Axing

Sources: Pakistan Cricket Board squad announcement, 3 November 2026, as reported by ESPNcricinfo, Geo Super, CricTracker and SportsTak.

Quaid-e-Azam Trophy round one is done: FATA beat Lahore Whites by 241 runs, with Babar Azam making 28 and 42. See FATA Beat Lahore Whites by 241 Runs. The second round starts Monday 9 November.