The Pakistan opening batter, Sahibzada Farhan, who became the very first batter of the country to nail India’s premier pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, for a six, has mocked the ability as the video went viral across social media platforms. In the video, he made fun of the Gujarat pacer, whom he broke during the 2025 Asia Cup.

The 29-year-old has overall smashed 682 runs in 31 innings of the T20Is at an average of 22 and a strike rate of 123.55 with the help of five half-centuries at the best score of 74 runs. In overall T20s, the right-handed batter has nailed 4180 runs in 135 innings at an average of 33.44 and a strike rate of 136.46, scoring six centuries and 26 fifties at the best score of unbeaten 162 runs. He was in good form against India in the Asia Cup 2025. 

See Also: Know group divisions for T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka

“I got to know that he (Jasprit Bumrah) is the same bowler who was yet to be smashed for a six. I said to myself How can it happen. So three innings and 150+ runs alone- when we play, we don’t put attention on who is in front of us.” Farhan expressed in the viral video.

Watch: Sahibzada Farhan laughs at nailing Jasprit Bumrah for sixes during Asia Cup 2025

In one of the games against India, the right-handed opening batter smashed 58 runs in 45 balls at a strike rate of 128.88 with the help of five boundaries and three sixes. Despite a brisk start with the bat, the right-handed batter couldn’t post a score above 130 strike rate as Bumrah went for 0/45 in his four overs. 

Sahibzada Farhan reflecting on how he exposed Bumrah bowling.

Biggest nightmare for india.. pic.twitter.com/8vzUz6nbWa

— Maaz (@IsThatMaaz) November 20, 2025

During the final of the tournament, Farhan smashed 57 runs in just 38 balls at a strike rate of 150 with the help of five boundaries and three sixes as the rest of the line-up, apart from Fakhar Zaman, fell like a pack of cards to get bundled out for 146.

India completed the chase by five wickets with two balls to spare as Tilak Varma smacked an unbeaten 69 runs in 53 balls. However, they have yet to experience the trophy in their hand, even after two months of the title-winning campaign.

Now it's time for the emerging Indian cricketers to take on the archrival Pakistan (IND A vs PAK A). After the Asia Cup 2025, these two nations are face-to-face for the ACC Men's Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 title. This time too, India is the favorite to win the tournament. Spotlights will be on young talent Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who already showed his firepower in the tournament before. Against the Pakistan A team, the India A team batter will try to do what he can do best—hitting the ball all over the park. Along with Suryavanshi, Punjab Kings star batter Priyansh Arya will be there in the middle of West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha to build a solid foundation as a top-order batter. It is a crucial match for Jitesh Sharma as well. He is the captain of the India A team.

Toss Update: 

Pakistan A team won the toss and elected to bowl first. Which means the batter from Bihar will be at the front to face the Pakistani bowlers first. 

India A vs Pakistan A match playing XIs:

India A (Playing XI): Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Priyansh Arya, Nehal Wadhera, Naman Dhir, Jitesh Sharma (w/c), Ramandeep Singh, Ashutosh Sharma, Harsh Dubey, Yash Thakur, Gurjapneet Singh, Suyash Sharma. 

Read More: Nishant Sindhu and Harshit Rana crush South Africa A for 132 all out in IND-A vs SA-A 2nd unofficial ODI

Pakistan A (Playing XI): Mohammad Naeem, Maaz Sadaqat, Yasir Khan, Mohammad Faiq, Irfan Khan (c), Saad Masood, Ghazi Ghori (w), Shahid Aziz, Ubaid Shah, Ahmed Daniyal, and Sufiyan Muqeem.

India A vs Pakistan A match details:

Series: ACC Men's Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025

Stadium: West End Park International Cricket Stadium

Toss: Pakistan A won the toss and opted to bowl.

Venue: West End Park International Cricket Stadium, Doha

Umpires: Hemantha Boteju, Mahmood Kharoti

3rd Umpire: Morshed Ali Khan

Referee: Pradeep Jeyaprakashdaran

Live Telecast: 

Streaming: SonyLIV

TV: Sony Sports Network

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has announced the introduction of two brand-new tournaments - a “Legends of Asia” event and a League for Associate Nations - following its board meeting in Doha on Saturday. The decision comes in the wake of the Asia Cup’s exceptional success and record-breaking viewership, which reportedly exceeded expectations.

An ACC spokesperson told Telecom Asia Sport that these upcoming events aim to expand the game’s footprint across Asia, particularly among developing cricket nations. “The viewership of the Asia Cup was more than expected, so encouraged by that, the ACC Board has decided to host a Legends of Asia event and a League amongst the associate members of the ACC,” the spokesperson said.

Focus on Promoting Rising Talent

The meeting, chaired by ACC President Mohsin Naqvi of Pakistan, also finalized preparations for the Rising Stars Asia Cup - previously known as the Emerging Asia Cup. The eight-nation T20 tournament will take place in Doha from November 14 to 23, with upgraded facilities set to host the games.

Naqvi emphasized the ACC’s mission to strengthen cricket in emerging regions. “We want to promote cricket in new and developing cricket countries across Asia. The ACC will provide full support to nations looking to grow the sport,” he said.

Big Opening Clash: India vs Pakistan

The Rising Stars Asia Cup promises a blockbuster start, with India and Pakistan set to face off on the opening day, November 14. They will be joined in Group A by Oman and the UAE, while Group B features Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong.

ALSO SEE: South Africa A registers massive record against India A during 2nd unofficial Test in Bengaluru

In this format, Test-playing nations including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan will send their A teams, while associate members - UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong - will participate with their senior squads.

Spotlight on Indo-Pak Dynamics

As always, the India–Pakistan clash is expected to draw global attention, both on and off the field. Discussions have already begun over whether the traditional handshake between the two teams will take place and, if India goes on to win the tournament, whether players will accept the trophy from ACC President Mohsin Naqvi, who will be the chief guest at the final.

Future Plans and Women’s Cricket

The ACC is also considering expanding its calendar further, with proposals for a Women’s Legends of Asia series and additional tournaments for associate members. The council expressed satisfaction with the fan engagement during the Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025, hosted in the UAE, and reaffirmed its focus on developing the women’s game in Asia.

Naqvi concluded by stating, “We will continue to take steps that help every Asian cricket nation rise. These new events will celebrate our legends while providing new opportunities for the next generation.”

India’s T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, continues to enjoy his success as the captain, having won the away five-match T20I series against Australia down under by a 2-1 margin, after the final game at the Gabba was washed out due to persistent rain. Later, in the press conference, Sky took a brutal dig at the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president, Mohsin Naqvi, who refused to offer the Blue Brigade the Asia Cup trophy.

Suryakumar congratulated the Indian women’s side for winning the Women’s World Cup 2025 after the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side got the better of South Africa in the final at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.

See Also: [WATCH] MS Dhoni signs autograph on fan’s bike in heartwarming gesture as video goes viral

“It feels great to finally get to touch the trophy. Felt it in my hands when I was handed over the trophy for the series victory. A few days back, another trophy arrived in India. Our women’s team has won the World Cup. That trophy has also arrived back home. It feels great, and getting to touch this trophy as well feels good.” Sky expressed during the press conference.

Suryakumar Yadav makes brutal statement on Mohsin Naqvi for Asia Cup 2025 controversy

The BCCI secretary, Devajit Saikia, reckoned that they were in constant talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the two cricketing bodies were able to break the ice on the dispute. He addressed that they would get the trophy in hand after the meeting had occurred between the boards and the International Cricket Council (ICC).

“When you're playing in your backyard, there will be a lot of support from everyone wherever we play in India. Going to be a good challenge, exciting tournament, but it's still far away. Two important series to go. Need to see a lot of things during that. I'm sure it will be an exciting World Cup ahead.” Sky noted in the press conference.

“It was really good to start the process of negotiation. Both sides cordially participated in the meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the ICC board meeting. Definitely, in the coming times, if things go positively, the issue will be sorted at the earliest.” Saikia shed light during an interaction on PTI.

In a key development, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has formally raised the question of the Asia Cup 2025 trophy at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Board meetings in Dubai. According to a report by Cricbuzz, the ICC has offered to step in and help solve the ongoing dispute between the BCCI and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman, Mohsin Naqvi.

India won the Asia Cup 2025 title by defeating Pakistan in the final on September 28 in Dubai. However, the Indian team has not yet received the trophy. Reports claim that the trophy is still in the custody of Mohsin Naqvi and remains at the ACC headquarters in Dubai. The discussions about the matter took place during the ICC meeting in a calm and respectful manner, with both sides focusing on finding a solution.

During the meeting, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia clearly stated that the trophy rightfully belongs to India and should be handed over immediately. As the issue continues, the ICC is now considering forming a special panel to act as a mediator and settle the disagreement. Many ICC board members have allegedly supported the suggestion, stating this is something that needs to be resolved quickly.

Trophy Controversy Still Unresolved

Despite the ICC’s involvement, the BCCI’s position remains firm. Saikia has made it clear that the BCCI will not accept the trophy directly from Mohsin Naqvi. The controversy started during the post-match presentation ceremony when the Indian team refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister.

See Also: Scotland star all-rounder rejoins Hobart Hurricanes as team announces squad for WBBL 2025

Suryakumar Yadav and other members of Team India declined to step forward and accept the trophy, which was immediately removed from the stage. Now that the ICC has stepped in, cricket fans are hopeful that the matter will eventually be resolved and the Indian team will regain the Asia Cup 2025 trophy they so much deserve.

After the Asia Cup 2025, now, focus will be slowly shifting towards the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025. In this tournament, Asia's leading cricket-playing nations will showcase their upcoming talents. In this tournament too, India will be the favorite to win. Like the Asia Cup 2025, in this tournament, India will be facing Pakistan, as both of the teams are in the same group. The Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 is scheduled to take place between November 14 and 23 at West End International Cricket Stadium in Doha.

Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025: Group division

• Group A: India, Pakistan, UAE, Oman
• Group B: Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Hong Kong

More important informations to know:

• Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 Venues: Doha, Qatar.
• Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 Scheduled: From November 14 to 23, details are yet to be published.
• Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 live streaming in India: On television, watch Sony Sports Network in India, and for online streaming, watch the Sony LIV app and website. 

Read More: India announce 15-member squad for Test series against South Africa as Rishabh Pant returns

All teams of the Rising Stars Asia Cup 2025

1. India A Squad: 

Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 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.

Stand-by: Gurnoor Singh Brar, Kumar Kushagra, Tanush Kotian, Sameer Rizvi, and Shaik Rasheed.

2. Pakistan A: 

Irfan Khan Niazi (C), Yasir Khan, Mohammad Naeem, Mohammad Faiq, Maaz Sadaqat, Ghazi Ghouri, Mohammad Shahzad, Saad Masood, Arafat Minhas, Mubasir Khan, Shahid Aziz, Sufiyan Muqeem, Ubaid Shah, Mohammad Salman, Ahmed Daniyal

3. Bangladesh A:

Akbar Ali (C), Mahidul Ankon (WK), Md. Shadin Islam, Md. Habibur Rahman, Tofael Ahmed Rayhan, Zawad Abrar, Yasir Ali, Mrittunjoy Chowdhury, Md. Abdul Gaffar, Jishan Alam, Meherob Hasan, Ariful Islam, Ripon Mondol, Rakibul Hasan, Abu Hidar Rony

4. Sri Lanka A:

Dunith Wellalage (C), Kavindu De Livera, Milan Rathnayaka, Vishen Halambage, Sahan Arachchige, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Nisan Madushka (WK), Ahan Wickramasinghe, Traveen Mathew, Lasith Croospulle, Pramod Madushan, Nuwanidu Fernando, Garuka Sanketh, Ramesh Mendis, Isitha Wijesundara

5. Afghanistan: 

Darwish Rasooli (C), Sediq Atal (VC), Zubaid Akbari, Noor Rahman (WK), Imran Mir, Rahmanullah Zadran, Ijaz Ahmadzai, Mohammad Ishaq (WK), Nangyal Kharoti, Farmanullah Safi, Qais Ahmad, AM Ghazanfar, Bilal Sami, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Wafiullah Tarakhil, Sediq Pacha, and Yama Arab.

India A have announced their squad for the upcoming Rising Stars Asia Cup 2025, scheduled to take place in Qatar from November 14 to 23. Wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma has been appointed as captain, while Naman Dhir will serve as his deputy.

Placed in Group B, India A will face UAE, Pakistan A, and Oman in the group stage. Their campaign begins against UAE on Friday, November 14, followed by clashes against Pakistan A (Nov 16) and Oman (Nov 18). The semifinals will be played on November 21, and the final is scheduled for November 23, all matches to be held at the West End International Cricket Stadium, Doha.

Interestingly, every player in the India A squad represents a different IPL franchise, offering a diverse mix of talent from across the league. Here’s a detailed team-by-team breakdown of the players named in the squad.

IPL Players in India A Squad for Rising Stars Asia Cup 2025

ALSO SEE: WATCH: Dhanashree Verma's reaction on India’s Women’s World Cup 2025 triumph

Tournament Overview

• Host Nation: Qatar
• Venue: West End International Cricket Stadium, Doha
• Dates: November 14–23, 2025
• Group: India A, Pakistan A, UAE, Oman
• Captain: Jitesh Sharma (RCB)
• Vice-Captain: Naman Dhir (MI)

Notable Exclusions

No players from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) or Gujarat Titans (GT) were picked for the India A squad.

The selection reflects the emerging IPL talent pool that continues to fuel India’s bench strength. With Jitesh Sharma at the helm and a mix of youth and form, India A will aim for a strong showing at the Rising Stars Asia Cup 2025.

Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf has been suspended for two matches after the latest official verdict from the International Cricket Council (ICC), as the pacer missed the first ODI of the three-match home ODI series against South Africa on Tuesday (November 4). Here we can know the reason for his suspension. 

Why has Haris Rauf been suspended for two games?

The Asia Cup 2025 was in the heat whenever India faced Pakistan. They faced thrice, including the Final, and all were in the hot atmospheres due to various reasons. During the matches against India, Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf repeatedly made provocative gestures. The ICC statement confirmed that Rauf was found guilty in two separate incidents during the group stage (September 14) and the Final (September 28) against India in the Asia Cup 2025, as his conduct was noted "that brings the game into disrepute" as per Article 2.21.

Rauf has been punished with a total of four demerit points, two demerit points from each game, which equals two suspension points, as the fast bowler will miss two international matches for Pakistan. So, apart from the ODI series opener, Rauf will also miss the second game of the series, scheduled on Thursday (November 6). Apart from receiving two demerit points from each match, Rauf has also been fined 30% of his match fees from each fixture.  

See Also: Drug addiction ends cricket legend's career ahead of T20 World Cup

There are more demerit points for Indian and Pakistan players 

Meanwhile, Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has been fined 30 percent of his match fees and handed two demerit points for breaching Article 2.21 in relation to their group stage meeting against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025. In relation to the same match, Pakistan cricketer Sahibzada Farzan has been issued an official warning and handed one demerit point. 

Indian right-arm fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has also been issued an official warning and handed one demerit point for breaching Article 2.21 during the Asia Cup 2025 Final against Pakistan.

On the other hand, another Indian left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh was charged with a breach of Article 2.6 during the Asia Cup 2025 Super Six clash against Pakistan, which was related to any gesture that is obscene, offensive, or insulting for actions. However, Singh ultimately hasn't been punished with anything, as the match referee Andy Pycroft didn't find him guilty. 

The wicket-keeper batter of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Jitesh Sharma, has been named the captain of the India A squad for the upcoming Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Rising Stars Asia Cup, which was called the Emerging Teams Tournament. It’s going to be played from November 14 to 23 in Doha, while Naman Dhir has been named his deputy.

The squad for the T20 competition looks strong with several players who have done well in the Indian Premier League (IPL) over the years, including Ramandeep Singh, Abhishek Porel, Ashutosh Sharma, Nehal Wadhera, Dhir, and others. Priyansh Arya and Vaibhav Suryavanshi also made their IPL debuts in 2025 and are part of the squad.

See Also: Who is RCB's new bowling coach Anya Shrubsole ahead of WPL 2026

There are the likes of Vijaykumar Vyshak, Suryansh Shedge, Yash Thakur, Gurjapneet Singh, and Harsh Dubey- the prominent performers of the Indian domestic circuit to get their names in the squad. Jitesh remains the only member of the side to have international experience, as he has been featuring in the current T20I series against Australia.

Jitesh Sharma to lead India A in Rising Stars Asia Cup 2025

The opening game of the tournament will be between Oman and Pakistan on November 14, before India faces the United Arab Emirates on the same day. The Blue Brigade’s next clash will be against Pakistan before locking horns with Oman on November 18. The semifinals will be on November 21, before the final takes place two days later.

In both the senior men’s and women’s games between India and Pakistan, there were no handshakes between the players. Now, it will be interesting to see if the same trend continues even in the Rising Stars’ competition. The teams are divided into two groups- Group A has Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, while Group B includes India, Oman, Pakistan, and the UAE.

India A squad for Rising Stars Asia Cup T20 2025 tournament

Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Nehal Wadhera, Naman Dhir (vice-captain), Suryansh Shedge, Jitesh Sharma (captain, wk), Ramandeep Singh, Harsh Dubey, Ashutosh Sharma, Yash Thakur, Gurjapneet Singh, Vijay Kumar Vyshak, Yudhvir Singh, Abishek Porel (wk), Suyash Sharma

Stand-by players- Gurnoor Brar, Kumar Kushagra, Tanush Kotian, Sameer Rizvi, and Shaik Rasheed.

The cricketing world is set for another thrilling chapter of the India–Pakistan rivalry as both teams have been drawn in the same group for the upcoming Asia Cup Rising Stars Championship 2025, formerly known as the Emerging Asia Cup. The tournament, organized by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), will take place in Doha, Qatar, from November 14 to 23, featuring Asia’s most promising young talents.

Fresh Identity, Same Intensity

The rebranded Asia Cup Rising Stars Championship aims to provide a bigger platform for the continent’s next generation of cricketers. The format has been tweaked to make it more competitive, a compact T20 tournament with eight teams, 15 matches, and no Super Four stage.

Each team will play three group-stage games, and the top two teams from each group will advance directly to the semifinals on November 21, with the final scheduled for November 23.

Teams and Group Division

All matches will be held at the West End International Cricket Stadium in Doha, known for its batting-friendly surface and lively evening atmosphere.

Full Schedule – Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025

Defending Champions Eye Repeat Glory

Afghanistan A, the reigning champions, will look to defend their title after their stunning triumph in the 2024 edition. They shocked everyone by defeating India A in the semifinals and Sri Lanka A in the final. The Afghan youngsters’ mix of power hitters and crafty spinners makes them a genuine threat once again.

Spotlight on the India–Pakistan Showdown

The most awaited clash, India vs Pakistan on November 16, is already generating buzz across the cricket world. Both sides are fielding their A squads, stacked with domestic performers, fringe internationals, and IPL/PSL hopefuls.

This will be their first meeting since the senior Asia Cup earlier this year, which ended in controversy over a trophy handover row involving ACC chief Naqvi. Reports suggest tensions still simmer between the boards, but fans will hope the focus remains on cricket this time.

Given the tournament’s knockout-heavy format, the India–Pakistan clash could be crucial in determining semifinal qualification, and possibly a final rematch if both teams go the distance.

ALSO SEE: Top 5 individual scores for India in ODI World Cup knockouts across men’s and women’s cricket ft. Jemimah Rodrigues

Tournament Format Overview

Rising Stars and Senior Pros

While India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan will send their A sides, the associate nations, UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong, will field their senior national teams, ensuring a fascinating blend of youth and experience.

Expect exciting performances from players like India’s domestic stars, Pakistan’s PSL regulars, and Afghanistan’s young spinners, all hungry to make a mark on the international stage.

Broadcast and Streaming Information

Another Asian Cricket Festival Awaits

The Asia Cup Rising Stars Championship 2025 isn’t just another development tournament, it’s a glimpse into Asia’s cricketing future. With fierce rivalries, rising stars, and high-stakes knockout drama, the Doha event is set to light up November.

And with another Under-19 Asia Cup scheduled for December, the stage is perfectly set for Asia’s cricket pipeline to showcase its depth and talent before the next major ICC cycle.