Abdul Samad has been handed the captaincy of the 15-member Pakistan Shaheens side for the 50-over ACC Men's Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 from November 19 to 29 in Qatar. The PCB confirmed the appointment on November 3, 2026.
Group B brings together Pakistan Shaheens, India, UAE and Nepal. Samad's side open their campaign against UAE on November 20, then face India on November 22 before rounding off the group stage against Nepal on November 25. Semi-finals are pencilled in for November 26 and 27. Group A is made
up of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Hong Kong and China.
Who are the notable players in the Pakistan Shaheens squad?
Several members of the squad have already represented Pakistan at senior level. Mohammad Hasnain, whose ODI debut came in 2019, brings pace-bowling experience to the group. Muhammad Imran Randhawa has appeared in both formats at the highest level, having made his Test debut against England at Edgbaston and also featuring for Pakistan in a T20I against Sri Lanka. Sufyan Moqim earned a place in the Pakistan setup during the Rawalpindi leg of a recent tri-series.
Rohail Nazir, the squad's only wicketkeeper, previously led Pakistan at the Under-19 level. Hasan Nawaz returns to 50-over cricket after a gap of roughly one year in the Tri-series against England and Sri Lanka. Farhan Yousuf and Shahzaib Khan are the two players in the group yet to earn a senior Pakistan cap, giving the side a healthy mix of proven performers and emerging talent across all departments. Haider Ali, Maaz Sadaqat and Shamyl Hussain add further depth to a well-rounded unit.
What is Pakistan Shaheens' record at the Rising Stars Asia Cup?
Heading into Qatar, Pakistan Shaheens carry the distinction of holding both the 50-over and T20 titles in the Asia Cup Rising Stars, a record that underlines their dominance in the regional age-group format.
Their most recent triumph in the 50-over edition arrived in 2023 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, where they overcame India by 128 runs in the final. That victory margin stands as one of the most emphatic in the tournament's history and sets a high standard for the squad as they prepare to defend their title against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and the rest of the field in 2026.
Pakistan Shaheens squad for ACC 50-over Rising Stars Asia Cup:
Abdul Samad (captain), Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Danish Aziz, Farhan Yousuf, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Imran Randhawa, Rohail Nazir (wicketkeeper), Saad Masood, Shahzaib Khan, Shamyl Hussain and Sufyan Moqim.
