Will there be a Pak-Ind showdown in Emerging Asia Cup?

WEB DESK: Cricket fans are gearing up for another explosive showdown in Asia as the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025, the newly rebranded version of the Emerging Asia Cup, gets underway in Doha, Qatar, from November 14 to 23. Organised by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), the 15-match tournament will feature eight nations vying for regional supremacy and a platform to showcase the next generation of cricketing talent.

Defending champions Afghanistan will be joined by Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Hong Kong in Group A, while Group B includes traditional rivals India and Pakistan, alongside Oman and the UAE. Pakistan will open their campaign against Oman on November 14, before taking on India in a highly anticipated encounter on November 16, followed by a clash with the UAE on November 18. The semi-finals will be played on November 21, with the final scheduled for November 23.

The ACC stated that the rebranded event reflects its vision of nurturing emerging talent and expanding cricket’s footprint across Asia’s full and associate member nations. All matches will take place in Doha, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals.

Beyond the cricketing action, the tournament also rekindles the sport’s fiercest rivalry, India versus Pakistan, after a tense senior Asia Cup earlier this year that was marred by controversy over trophy presentation protocols. Fans will be watching closely to see whether the two sides can channel their intensity into another classic contest.

With youthful squads, high stakes, and regional pride on the line, the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 promises to deliver a thrilling preview of Asia’s cricketing future, and perhaps the birth of its next generation of stars.