The cricketing rivalry between India and Pakistan is set to continue at the junior level as India A prepares to take on Pakistan A in the highly anticipated Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 tournament. This exciting clash between the future stars of both nations will take place on November 16 at the West End International Cricket Stadium in Doha.
Tournament Overview and Format
The Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025, previously known as the Emerging Asia Cup, kicks off on November 14 in Doha with eight participating teams competing for the championship title. The tournament will feature a total of 15 matches with two games scheduled daily throughout the competition.
The eight teams have been divided into two groups of four teams each. Group A includes Sri Lanka A, Bangladesh A, Afghanistan A, and Hong Kong (China), while Group B features India A, Pakistan A, UAE, and Oman. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals scheduled for November 21, followed by the final on November 23.
Team India's Young Brigade
India A will be led by wicketkeeper-batsman Jitesh Sharma, with Naman Dhir serving as vice-captain. The squad features several exciting young talents who have made their mark in domestic cricket and the IPL.
The team includes the remarkable 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who headlines the Indian contingent. Other notable names in the squad include IPL sensations Priyansh Arya, Nehal Wadhera, Abhishek Porel, and Suyash Sharma. The complete India A squad comprises: Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Nehal Wadhera, Naman Dhir (vc), Suryansh Shedge, Jitesh Sharma (c) (wk), Ramandeep Singh, Harsh Dubey, Ashutosh Sharma, Yash Thakur, Gurjapneet Singh, Vijay Kumar Vyshak, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Abhisek Porel (wk), and Suyash Sharma.
Pakistan A Squad and Historical Context
Pakistan A will be captained by Irfan Khan, leading a squad that includes promising talents like Yasir Khan, Muhammad Naeem, Muhammad Faiq, and Ubaid Shah. The complete Pakistan A roster features: Irfan Khan (c), Yasir Khan, Muhammad Naeem, Muhammad Faiq, Maaz Sadaqat, Ghazi Ghori, Muhammad Shahzad, Saad Masood, Arafat Minhas, Mubasir Khan, Shahid Aziz, Sufyan Moqim, Ubaid Shah, Muhammad Salman, and Ahmad Daniyal.
The tournament has evolved significantly since its inception in 2013. For the first four editions (2013, 2017, 2018, and 2019), the competition featured U-23 teams. Since 2023, A teams have been participating in the tournament. In terms of head-to-head encounters between India and Pakistan in the junior Asia Cup, India enjoys a dominant 4-1 record, with Pakistan's only victory coming in 2019.
Match Details and Broadcasting Information
The India A vs Pakistan A match is scheduled for November 16 at 8 PM IST at the West End International Cricket Stadium in Doha. Indian cricket fans can catch all the action live on the Sony Sports Network, which holds the official broadcasting rights for the tournament in India.
The match will be telecast live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD and Sony Sports Ten 1 HD channels starting from 8 PM IST. For viewers preferring digital platforms, live streaming will be available on the Sony LIV app and website.
This encounter comes just months after the Indian senior team dominated Pakistan in all three encounters during the Asia Cup final in September, adding extra significance to this junior-level clash as both nations look to assert their cricketing dominance across all levels.
