Pakistan Shaheens won the most recent tournament in 2025, defeating Bangladesh A in a thrilling final that went into a Super Over. The Rising Stars Asia Cup has now been held six times since its launch in 2013 and continues to spotlight the next generation of international cricket talent.
This competition gives promising under-23 players and ‘A’ team cricketers valuable international exposure before stepping into their senior national sides.
Below is the complete history of the tournament, featuring every winner, runner-up, and year.
Asia Cup Rising Stars Winners List
Here is the complete list of Asia Cup Rising Stars winners:
| Year | Final Venue | Winner | Runner-up | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | West End Park International Cricket Stadium,Doha | Pakistan A | Bangladesh A | Match tied (won the super over) |
| 2024 | Oman Cricket Academy, Muscat | Afghanistan A | Sri Lanka A | Won by 7 wickets |
| 2023 | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | Pakistan A | India A | Won by 128 runs |
| 2019 | Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka | Pakistan U23 | Bangladesh U23 | Won by 77 runs |
| 2018 | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | Sri Lanka U23 | India U23 | Won by 3 runs |
| 2017 | Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram | Sri Lanka U23 | Pakistan U23 | Won by 5 wickets |
| 2013 | Kallang Ground, Singapore | India U23 | Pakistan U23 | Won by 9 wickets |
2025 Tournament – Pakistan A Takes the Trophy
Pakistan Shaheens were crowned Rising Stars Asia Cup 2025 champions after a nail-biting final against Bangladesh A that went into a Super Over. Pakistan posted 125 runs before Bangladesh A’s last-wicket stand forced the tie.
Ahmed Daniyal’s two breakthroughs in the Super Over gave Pakistan a small target, which Saad Masood and Maaz Sadaqat chased comfortably. This win marked Pakistan Shaheens’ third title, making them the most successful team in the tournament’s history.
2024 Tournament – Afghanistan A Makes History
Afghanistan A created history by winning their first-ever ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup title.
They defeated Sri Lanka A by 7 wickets in the final played at Oman Cricket Academy in Muscat. Afghanistan A chased down Sri Lanka A’s total of 133 runs in just 18.1 overs, showing strong batting performance in the final match.
2023 Tournament – Pakistan A Dominates
Pakistan A won the 2023 edition with a massive victory over India A. Playing at the famous R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Pakistan A crushed India A by 128 runs in the final. This big win showed Pakistan’s strength in developing young cricket talent for future international competitions.
2019 Tournament – Pakistan U23 Triumphs
Pakistan U23 proved their skills by defeating Bangladesh U23 in Dhaka. The match was played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, where Pakistan won by 77 runs.
This victory gave Pakistan their first title in the tournament’s history and showed Bangladesh’s growing cricket development programs.
2018 Tournament – Sri Lanka U23 Thrilling Win
Sri Lanka U23 became the first team to win two titles in a row. They won one of the most exciting finals in tournament history. They beat India U23 by just 3 runs at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
This super close finish kept fans on the edge of their seats until the last ball was bowled.
2017 Tournament – Sri Lanka U23 Back-to-Back Success
They defeated Pakistan U23 by 5 wickets in Chattogram, Bangladesh. They chased down the target of 134 runs in just 23.5 overs.
This victory proved Sri Lanka’s excellent system for training young cricketers and preparing them for international cricket careers.
2013 Tournament – India U23 Inaugural Champions
India U23 won the very first ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup tournament. Playing at Kallang Ground in Singapore, India defeated Pakistan U23 by 9 wickets.
This strong performance set the standard for future tournaments and showed India’s deep pool of talented young players.
Who Has Dominated The Asia Cup Rising Stars Tournament?
Sri Lanka U23 leads the championship race with 2 titles won in 2017 and 2018. Pakistan teams (both U23 and A teams combined) have also won 2 titles – Pakistan U23 in 2019 and Pakistan A in 2023. Afghanistan A, India U23 have each won the trophy once.
India vs. Pakistan Rivalry: The intense rivalry between India and Pakistan has produced some memorable moments.
These two teams have met in two different finals (2013 and 2023), with each match bringing huge excitement for cricket fans across Asia. India won the first final in 2013, while Pakistan took revenge by winning the 2023 edition.
Notable Trend: The tournament format changed after 2019. Earlier editions featured Under-23 teams, but recent tournaments now include ‘A’ teams. These ‘A’ teams have players who are very close to playing for their national teams.
This change means the competition now features more experienced and skilled cricketers, making matches more competitive and exciting.
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Conclusion: Young Asian Cricketers Shine On International Stage
The ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup continues to be an important stepping stone for future cricket stars. Many players who performed well in this tournament have gone on to represent their countries in international cricket.
The competition helps teams test their young talent against quality opposition and prepares players for the pressure of big matches.
As the tournament grows, it will keep producing exciting cricket and discovering new heroes for fans to cheer.
Stay updated with the latest cricket news and tournament schedules to catch these rising stars in action!
FAQ
The number of teams varies by edition, but recent tournaments have featured 8 teams, including India A, Pakistan A, Sri Lanka A, Afghanistan A, Bangladesh A, Hong Kong, UAE, and Oman.
U23 teams include players under 23 years old, while ‘A’ teams can have players of any age who are close to the national team level but not currently selected. ‘A’ teams usually have more experienced players.
Broadcasting rights vary by country and tournament edition. Check with local sports channels or streaming platforms in your region. The Asian Cricket Council website also provides information about official broadcasters.
Yes, many players who performed well in this tournament have gone on to play for their national teams in international cricket, though specific names vary by edition and country.
The tournament schedule is not annual, and the gap between 2019 and 2023 was likely due to various factors, including the COVID-19 pandemi,c which affected cricket schedules worldwide during 2020-2021.
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