India vs Pakistan in Doha: How Rising Stars Asia Cup could further the Middle East’s cricket surge
Just weeks after the Men in Blue won the 2025 Asia Cup in Dubai, the India A team is back in the Middle East. Perhaps the Asian Cricket Council can send the Asia Cup trophy—withheld by its Pakistani chief—back to India with the Boys in Blue when they return. But for now, the developmental squad is in Doha to win a trophy of its own and is expected to do so.
India have started well in the 2025 Rising Stars Asia Cup, beating the UAE in their opening match on November 14. Up next is Pakistan A on November 16. This will be the highlight of the eight-team tournament—also featuring Afghanistan A, Sri Lanka A, Bangladesh A, Hong Kong and Oman—unless India and Pakistan meet again in the final on November 23.
For the uninitiated, the Rising Stars Asia Cup, organised by the ACC, was first held in 2013 as the Emerging Teams Asia Cup. The first edition and the next three—2017, 2018 and 2019—were U23 competitions. The A teams of stronger cricketing nations began participating in 2023. India U23s won in 2013, while Afghanistan A won in 2024. Teams from Sri Lanka and Pakistan have won twice each.
This year, all matches will be played at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha. The stadium has been operational for over a decade and was designated as Afghanistan’s home ground for upcoming Tests earlier this year. So, it is not an obscure or unknown venue. However, the level of attention that India—even at the A-team level—brings will be unprecedented. Therefore, if India A wins it could provide a significant boost to Qatar’s emergence as a cricket destination.
The UAE already has world-class stadiums in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. All three are ICC-compliant, with advanced lighting and pitch management systems. Since the days of the Cricketers Benefit Fund Series in Sharjah in 1981, cricket has grown from a niche expatriate passion into a major sporting and economic force.
Sharjah itself is synonymous with iconic cricketing memories. In India, the world’s most important cricket market, Sachin Tendulkar’s legendary ‘Desert Storm’ innings defines the venue. For Pakistani fans, it is Javed Miandad’s last-ball six against India in 1986.
The UAE also became central to global cricket governance when the ICC relocated its headquarters from split offices in the Lord’s and Monaco to Dubai in 2005. In recent years, its ability to organise major events at short notice has earned it a reputation as a dependable member of the cricketing fraternity. The IPL and the 2021 T20 World Cup during Covid-19, and the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup during political unrest in Bangladesh, are leading examples.
Qatar’s rise, combined with the UAE’s already entrenched position in world cricket, will further accelerate the sport’s growth in the Middle East. Not to be left behind, Saudi Arabia is also spotlighting its cricket ambitions through the World Cricket Festival in December and wider investments aimed at expanding the sport’s footprint.
The Middle East’s cricket surge, however, goes beyond marquee events. The ILT20 league, launched in 2022 in the UAE, has attracted international talent and boosted tourism and economic activity. Media rights revenues now run into tens of millions of dollars. The entertainment-driven Abu Dhabi T10 League has reported over 300 million viewers.
Overall, the region now offers an exciting blend: a neutral, sophisticated venue for India-Pakistan matches (should they continue playing), a stage for major global competitions and off-field events, and a growing, well-funded cricket ecosystem.
Challenges remain. Sustaining local interest may depend on developing home-grown talent rather than relying on expatriates. The UAE team, ranked 16th in T20Is, remains expatriate-heavy. Deepening grassroots participation and widening local talent pools are essential for long-term league sustainability.
Still, ongoing investments in infrastructure, player development and event hosting show that the Middle East is determined to become a significant player in global cricket. This aligns with broader national strategies: cricket can strengthen diplomacy, support economic growth and bring diverse immigrant communities together. That makes the sport a valuable asset for the region—and well worth the effort.
Middle East