The 2024 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup: A Comprehensive Overview

The 2024 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup is the sixth edition of this prestigious tournament, being held in October 2024 in Muscat, Oman. Organized by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), this competition features eight teams, comprising ‘A’ teams from major cricketing nations and qualifiers from the ACC Men's Premier Cup.

Teams

The tournament involves the following teams, divided into two groups:

Group A:

• Afghanistan A
• Bangladesh A
• Hong Kong
• Sri Lanka A

Group B:

• India A
• Oman
• Pakistan Shaheens
• United Arab Emirates

Squad Highlights:

Afghanistan A: Led by Sediqullah Atal, the team boasts young talent such as Qais Ahmad, a promising leg-spinner, and Karim Janat, an experienced all-rounder. The squad also includes rising stars like Riaz Hassan and Shahidullah.

Bangladesh A: Skipper Akbar Ali, who also handles wicketkeeping duties, leads a strong side that includes vice-captain Saif Hassan and all-rounder Towhid Hridoy. Prominent bowlers include Rakibul Hasan and Abu Hider.

Hong Kong: The team is led by Nizakat Khan with support from vice-captain Yasim Murtaza. Veteran players like Babar Hayat and Aizaz Khan add depth to the squad. The team’s younger talent includes Anshuman Rath and Ayush Shukla.

India A: India A is captained by the talented batter Tilak Varma. The squad features a mix of emerging players such as Ayush Badoni and Nehal Wadhera, with experienced names like Prabhsimran Singh and Rahul Chahar.

Oman: Aqib Ilyas captains the home side, which includes experienced campaigners like Zeeshan Maqsood and Jatinder Singh. Wicketkeeping responsibilities are shared by Pratik Athavale and Hammad Mirza.

Pakistan Shaheens: Led by wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris, the Pakistan Shaheens squad includes promising fast bowlers such as Shahnawaz Dahani and Abbas Afridi. Middle-order strength comes from Qasim Akram and Haider Ali.

Sri Lanka A: Nuwanidu Fernando leads Sri Lanka A, with all-rounders such as Sahan Arachchige and Ramesh Mendis providing balance to the side. Young talents like Ahan Wickramasinghe and Lasith Croospulle are also included in the squad.

United Arab Emirates: Basil Hameed captains the UAE side, which features players like Rahul Chopra, Muhammad Farooq, and Nilansh Keswani. Wicketkeeping is handled by Aryansh Sharma and Tanish Suri.

Overview

This edition of the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup promises to showcase future cricket stars from across Asia. The blend of experienced and young players in each squad ensures a competitive and exciting tournament, with the Asian Cricket Council aiming to nurture emerging talent.