Get set for another intriguing India-Pakistan clash on November 16

Dubai: India-Pakistan matches never fail to capture the imagination of cricket fans. Each time the two Asian powerhouses are set to meet, excitement builds across the subcontinent. The buzz is back again as the rivals prepare to face off in the Asian Cricket Council’s (ACC) Rising Stars T20 tournament, which kicks off on November 14 in Doha, Qatar. The much-awaited India—Pakistan clash is scheduled for Sunday, November 16.

Organised by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), this tournament was first held in 2013 as the Emerging Teams Asia Cup and has seen six editions so far. The 2025 edition, featuring a T20 format for the first time, marks its debut under the new Rising Stars banner.

The inaugural tournament in Singapore was won by the India U23 team, while Afghanistan A claimed the most recent title in Oman last year. Sri Lanka and Pakistan have also lifted the trophy in previous years.

This year’s competition features eight teams. Group A has Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, and Sri Lanka while Group B consists of India, Oman, Pakistan, and the UAE.

Each team will face its three group opponents once, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals. The final will be played on November 23. The associate nations — Hong Kong, Oman, and UAE — will field their main national sides, while the ICC full-member countries will send their ‘A’ squads.

The group composition mirrors that of the recent 2025 Asia Cup, though the Rising Stars tournament will feature only a round-robin stage followed by the knockouts.

Last meetings

India and Pakistan have crossed paths frequently in recent months. In the Asia Cup in Dubai, India’s senior men’s team defeated Pakistan in all three encounters, including the final, to lift the trophy. The rivalry also continued at the ICC Women’s World Cup, where India beat Pakistan in the group stage and later went on to win the tournament by defeating South Africa in the final.

All eyes will once again be on Vaibhav Suryavanshi, India’s 14-year-old batting prodigy who has been making headlines with his extraordinary talent. Earlier this year, he made history by becoming the youngest player to appear in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Rajasthan Royals, and the youngest and fastest Indian to score a century in the tournament — a blistering 35-ball ton against Gujarat Titans. Vaibhav has continued his impressive form for India’s youth sides, becoming the youngest and fastest centurion in U19 ODI history.

Meanwhile, Pakistan have named Mohammad Irfan Khan as captain for the Rising Stars tournament. The squad features only three players with senior international experience — Irfan, spinner Sufiyan Muqeem, and pacer Ahmed Daniyal — while the rest have excelled in domestic circuits, under-19 levels, and the Pakistan Super League.

With both nations fielding talented young line-ups and pride at stake, another thrilling chapter in the India—Pakistan rivalry awaits cricket fans in Doha.

Group A: Afghanistan A, Sri Lanka A, Bangladesh A, Hong Kong

Group B: India A, Pakistan Shaheens, UAE, Oman