Rising Stars Asia Cup in Qatar: Pakistan Shaheens Named Under Abdul Samad, But the Format Question Remains Unresolved

The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced a 15-member Shaheens squad for the Rising Stars Asia Cup, scheduled to be held in Qatar from November 19 to 29. Abdul Samad has been handed the captaincy of the side. In a statement issued by the board, it was clarified that this team is part of the pool created for Pakistan's emerging and fringe players. Along with this, the board also claimed that the Shaheens have been the winners of the last two editions of this tournament. As such, the Pakistan team will once again take the field as defending champions.

However, the biggest story of this team is less about the balance of the squad and more about the format, which has not been explicitly mentioned anywhere. In the last 50-over edition played in Sri Lanka in 2026, Pakistan defeated India A by 128 runs in the final. Prior to that, in the T20 edition, they had beaten Bangladesh A in a Super Over. Now, the format of the 2026 Qatar edition is not mentioned anywhere in the statement. Over the past few years, I have tracked the playing conditions of these tournaments, and whenever there has been this ambiguity regarding the format, it has always raised questions about team strategy and squad selection.

This tournament is fundamentally a development-tier event, in which 8 teams are divided into two groups. The journey from the group stage to the final has to be completed within ten days. That means a team will have the opportunity to play a maximum of five matches. In such a short time, no team has much opportunity to correct its mistakes. Therefore, the balance of the squad and its role-specific nature becomes most important here. Talking about Pakistan Shaheens, they have been placed in Group B, which includes strong teams like India A, Nepal, and UAE. This group is entirely tied to subcontinental conditions. Qatar pitches are generally considered flat and favourable for batting, but as the matches progress, the influence of spinners increases.

Now look closely at the team composition. In the 15-member squad, there are two fast bowlers like Mohammad Hasnain and Akif Javed, while there is a left-arm wrist-spinner in the form of Sufiyan Muqeem. Akif Javed is a left-arm fast bowler, and Sufiyan Muqeem is a left-arm wrist-spinner. This combination is rarely seen in Pakistani cricket. In both ODIs and T20s, the pairing of a left-arm fast bowler and a left-arm wrist-spinner proves to be quite effective in the middle overs, especially when the opposition is subcontinental batting. The wicketkeeping role is with Rohail Nazir, who is considered an established keeper-batter at the A level. Additionally, the presence of players like Haider Ali and Danish Aziz indicates that this is not just a team of young players. This is a 'rehab and re-audit' squad for players whose senior careers have stalled for one reason or another. Based on my experience covering this sport since the nineties, I can say that this structure of the 'A' team in Pakistan has often been used for exactly this purpose.

Making Abdul Samad the captain is not an ordinary decision. This is a signal of leadership development. Being given the captaincy at the 'A' level indicates that the board sees him as a serious contender for the future. This selection can have a long-term impact on both the upcoming senior team selection and his market standing in franchise cricket. Mohammad Hasnain's presence is the most important and most risky selection in this team. He is one of the most experienced players, and his playing will also determine whether he is fully ready for a comeback. He has a history of injuries, so how his workload is managed in a development tournament will be a big question. On the other hand, the absence of a specialist off-spinner or a second frontline spinner in the squad may seem like a shortcoming. If the Qatar pitches take turn, Sufiyan Muqeem could come under a lot of pressure.

Now comes the weakness that the 'defending champion' tag has hidden the most. A 128-run victory does not mean that Pakistan's programme is fully effective. How strongly it maintains its grip in the semi-finals and final matches remains to be seen. The format of the tournament is still not clear. Additionally, the match against India A on November 22 is not just a group game. Any match between the two countries carries political and emotional baggage with it. From security to broadcast, everything around this match is managed at a different level. Assuming the Shaheens' past performance as the destination would be a big mistake, because in Group B, they face a team like Nepal, which is no longer just an associate team.

Under Samad's leadership, this team is part of the development structure, and its biggest test will be the match against India A. But more importantly, it is necessary to understand that this team is merely a part of the selection process. The squad itself is the 'shop window' where emerging players put themselves in the race for the senior team and come into the eyes of franchise scouts. For now, before the Asia Cup from November 19 to 29, we can only say that as soon as the format is announced in the playing conditions file coming next week, the rest of the squad's rationale will become clear on its own. The scoreboard remains to be seen, but until it is decided in which format the game will be played, any claim about strategy or form will be mere speculation. And for now, there are still 3 days left before the game begins.