The Asian Cricket Council has officially announced the complete itinerary for the upcoming Men's Under-19 Asia Cup 2026. Oman will serve as the host nation for this nine-day competitive event, which brings together eight junior national squads from across the region to compete in 15 scheduled fixtures. Reigning champions Pakistan, who secured the silverware last December on UAE soil, enter the tournament looking to defend their crown. The 50-over competition is slated to begin on November 5 and will conclude with the championship showdown on November 14.
Eight Participating Teams Divided Across Two Groups
The competing nations have been split evenly into two groups of four to determine who advances to the knockout rounds. Group A features perennial rivals India and Pakistan alongside Nepal and UAE. Meanwhile, Group B comprises Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Malaysia playing in the host country of Oman. Across the preliminary stage, teams will contest a total of 12 group matches, with the top two performers from each pool securing entry into the semi-finals.
High-Stakes India Versus Pakistan Clash on November 8
The standout fixture of the group phase will unfold on November 8 at OCA Ground 1 when India square off against Pakistan. This rivalry brings added intensity after Pakistan, captained by Farhan Yousaf, registered an emphatic 191-run victory in the previous final at the ICC Academy Ground in UAE to claim their second Under-19 Asia Cup title. India will be eager to settle the score this time around as both outfits battle for supremacy in Group A.
Opening Fixtures and Preliminary Stage Timeline
Action gets underway on November 5 with a double-header. Sri Lanka will meet Malaysia at OCA Ground 2, while Bangladesh take on Afghanistan simultaneously at OCA Ground 1. Group A action begins the following day, November 6, as India open their tournament against Nepal, and Pakistan play UAE. On November 7, Sri Lanka face Bangladesh and Afghanistan go up against Malaysia.
The group phase will run through November 10 with double-headers on every matchday except the final. Alongside the marquee India-Pakistan encounter on November 8, UAE will take on Nepal. On November 9, Bangladesh meet Malaysia and Sri Lanka play Afghanistan. The group schedule concludes on November 10, when India wrap up against UAE and Pakistan battle Nepal to finalize the standings for the final four.
Semi-Finals Lineup and Grand Finale Details
The tournament moves to the knockout round on November 12 with both semi-finals played on the same day. The first semi-final at OCA Ground 2 will feature the Group A winners against the runners-up of Group B. Concurrently, the second semi-final at OCA Ground 1 will pit the Group B table-toppers against the second-placed team from Group A. The victors of these ties will contest the championship final on November 14 at OCA Ground 2. All 15 matches throughout the competition will start at 10:30 AM IST across the two grounds of the Oman Cricket Academy.
