Doha set for blockbuster India–Pakistan clash in Rising Stars T20

Doha, Qatar: India A and Pakistan Shaheens renew one of cricket s most watched rivalries on Sunday when the two teams meet in the Asia Cup Rising Star...

Doha, Qatar: India A and Pakistan Shaheens renew one of cricket’s most-watched rivalries on Sunday when the two teams meet in the Asia Cup Rising Stars at West End Park Stadium in Asian Town.

Both teams, placed in Group B at this year’s edition of the tournament conducted by the Asian Cricket Council and hosted by the Qatar Cricket Association, have started off on winning notes on Friday, with Pakistan Shaheens defeating Oman by 40 runs, while India A crushed UAE by a massive 148-run margin.

Today’s much-awaited clash will be the first meeting between the men’s teams of the two traditional rivals since the senior Asia Cup in September, although the senior women’s sides met at the ODI World Cup earlier this month in Sri Lanka.

The teams share a rich history in the tournament – earlier labeled as the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup - which dates back to 2013.

India’s U-23 and A teams lead the head-to-head record 5-2. The teams have met twice in the title clashes, with India U-23 winning the 2013 final by nine wickets in Singapore and Pakistan U-23 producing a 128-run demolition in the 2023 final in Colombo in the 50-over format. From this year on, the tournament features 20-overs-per-side contests, featuring ‘A’ teams from the International Cricket Council’s full member nations and top sides from the rest of the participating countries.