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U19 Asia Cup 2026: India and Pakistan to Clash on Diwali, ACC Releases Full Schedule
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has officially announced the schedule for the upcoming U19 Asia Cup 2026. This tournament promises to be extra special for Indian fans, as a blockbuster clash between the Indian and Pakistani youth teams is set to take place on the day of Diwali.
Tournament to be Held in Oman; 8 Teams to Compete
The U19 Asia Cup will be hosted in Oman from November 4 to November 14. All matches will be played at the Oman Cricket Academy (OCA) Ground 1 and Ground 2 in Al Amerat, Muscat. The eight participating teams have been divided into two groups:
- Group A: India, Pakistan, UAE, Nepal
- Group B: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Malaysia
India vs. Pakistan U19: A High-Voltage Rivalry
Recent youth tournaments have witnessed fierce competition between the two sides. In the final of the U19 Asia Cup held in Dubai last year, Pakistan defeated India by a massive margin of 191 runs. However, India made a spectacular comeback during the U19 World Cup cycle, knocking Pakistan out of the tournament.
This time, the Indian team will kick off the new 2026-28 Youth ODI cycle under the captaincy of Lakshya Raichandani, with the ultimate goal being the 2028 U19 World Cup.
Full Schedule for U19 Asia Cup 2026
November 5, Thursday
- Sri Lanka U19 vs Malaysia U19 — OCA Ground 2
- Bangladesh U19 vs Afghanistan U19 — OCA Ground 1
November 6, Friday
- Pakistan U19 vs UAE U19 — OCA Ground 2
- India U19 vs Nepal U19 — OCA Ground 1
November 7, Saturday
- Afghanistan U19 vs Malaysia U19 — OCA Ground 2
- Sri Lanka U19 vs Bangladesh U19 — OCA Ground 1
November 8, Sunday (Diwali Mega-Clash)
- UAE U19 vs Nepal U19 — OCA Ground 2
- India U19 vs Pakistan U19 — OCA Ground 1
November 9, Monday
- Bangladesh U19 vs Malaysia U19 — OCA Ground 2
- Sri Lanka U19 vs Afghanistan U19 — OCA Ground 1
November 10, Tuesday
- India U19 vs UAE U19 — OCA Ground 2
- Pakistan U19 vs Nepal U19 — OCA Ground 1
Knockout Matches
- November 12: Semi-final 1 (A1 vs B2) — OCA Ground 1
- November 12: Semi-final 2 (B1 vs A2) — OCA Ground 2
- November 14: Final (SF1 Winner vs SF2 Winner) — OCA Ground 2
