Nepal have been drawn in Group B alongside India 'A', Pakistan 'A' and the UAE for the 2026 Men's Rising Stars Asia Cup, which will be held in Qatar from November 19 to 29. The tournament will be played in a 50-over format, with eight teams divided into two groups. Nepal, the UAE and Hong Kong will compete using their senior national sides, while India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will field 'A' teams.
Nepal's Group B opponents
Group B brings together four teams: Nepal, India 'A', Pakistan 'A' and the UAE. The draw places Nepal in a section featuring two 'A' teams and one other national side. India and Pakistan will be represented by their respective 'A' squads, while Nepal and the UAE will play with their senior national teams.
The group line-up sets out the teams Nepal will face in the opening group stage of the event. The tournament information provided does not specify the match schedule or the dates on which each Group B fixture will be played. It confirms that the competition runs for 11 days, from November 19 through November 29, in Qatar.
Group A line-up
Group A consists of Bangladesh 'A', Sri Lanka 'A', Afghanistan 'A' and Hong Kong. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will join India and Pakistan in sending 'A' teams to the tournament. Afghanistan will also be in Group A, while Hong Kong will compete with its senior national side.
The two-group format divides the eight participating teams evenly, with four sides in each section. Group A therefore includes three 'A' teams and one senior national side. Group B has two 'A' teams and two senior national sides. The team categories and group allocations provide the confirmed structure of the 2026 Rising Stars Asia Cup, although further details about fixtures have not been provided.
Tournament format and participating sides
The 2026 Men's Rising Stars Asia Cup is scheduled as a 50-over tournament in Qatar. The event's November 19-29 dates place the competition within an 11-day window. Nepal will enter the tournament as a senior national team, rather than as an 'A' side, and will share its group with India's and Pakistan's 'A' teams and the UAE's senior side.
Across both groups, the participating sides are Bangladesh 'A', Sri Lanka 'A', Afghanistan 'A' and Hong Kong in Group A, and India 'A', Pakistan 'A', Nepal and the UAE in Group B. The distinction in team representation is part of the announced line-up: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are sending 'A' teams, while Nepal, the UAE and Hong Kong are set to play with senior national sides.
The group draw confirms Nepal's place in the tournament and identifies its three Group B opponents. With the competition set to be staged in Qatar in a 50-over format, Nepal will be among eight sides competing in the 2026 edition of the Rising Stars Asia Cup. The available tournament details confirm the dates, format, groups and team representation, but do not include individual match dates or other fixture information.
