Pakistan has included fast bowler Ali Raza in its Shaheens squad for the ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 after Akif Javed was ruled out of the tournament due to a knee injury.
According to sources, Akif Javed’s MRI scan confirmed the injury, prompting the decision to withdraw him from the tournament to prevent further damage. He has been advised to stay away from cricket until fully fit and begin his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
His return to bowling will be managed through a gradual rehabilitation process.
The eight-team tournament will be held in Doha, Qatar, from November 19 to 29, with defending champions Pakistan placed in Group B alongside India, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Nepal.
Pakistan Shaheens will begin their campaign against the UAE on November 20, followed by a highly anticipated clash against India on November 22. Their final group-stage match will be against Nepal on November 24.
The tournament features two groups, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the semi-finals. The semi-finals are scheduled for November 26 and 27, while the final will take place on November 29.
Pakistan Shaheens Squad
Abdul Samad (Captain), Ahmed Daniyal, Ali Raza, Danish Aziz, Farhan Yousaf, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, Rohail Nazir (Wicketkeeper), Saad Masood, Shahzaib Khan, Shamyl Hussain and Sufiyan Muqeem.