U19 Asia Cup 2026: Dates, Teams, Schedule & Everything About the Under-19 Asia Cup

Nobody talks about youth cricket until it happens, after which everyone asks who the next Kohli is. The Under-19 Asia Cup is the tournament where these names come up first – and the next one is set to take place in October 2026, with the venue still to be decided. This page has everything there is to know about this event, and will be updated once the official announcement is out.

Some context needs to be given before presenting this information, however – Pakistan are the defending champions, having beaten India by a humbling 191 runs in the final, which will be expanded on below.

U19 Asia Cup 2026: The Essentials

Report: What Happened In The U19 Asia Cup 2025?

This was a thoroughly emphatic victory by Pakistan. In the final against India at Dubai on 21st December 2025, opener Sameer Minhas scored a stunning 172 off 113 balls to lead his side to a commanding 347 for 8. Chasing that down, India were all out for 156 in 26.2 overs. A 191-run victory in the final for Pakistan was enough for them to claim their second U19 Asia Cup title, with Sameer Minhas instantly becoming a prospect to watch out for – which is the point of this tournament. His name will be on many a franchise draft board over the next two years.

U19 Asia Cup 2026: Teams

The teams that will qualify for the U19 Asia Cup are as follows: The five Test-playing nations – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan – will all be joined by the UAE, as well as a couple of the qualifiers from the development pathway set out by the ACC. This makes for eight teams, split into two groups of four, with the top two progressing to the semi-finals. The two main nations to watch out for that may make it into the fray are Nepal and Oman, with both having qualified in previous editions. Squad announcements are usually made about two weeks before the tournament begins, and it is where this tournament really gets interesting, as this is what the franchises that will be watching out for new talent in the next two years will be focusing their attention on.

U19 Asia Cup Format

As mentioned above, the U19 Asia Cup 2026 will see teams play one another in a 50-over (List A) format as opposed to Twenty20 – something which should be noted if the U19 World Cup is also being followed, as it is also a 50-over format. With eight teams, it will be split into two groups of four, with the top two in each advancing to the semi-finals, which will be followed by the final. With only two weeks on offer, this is a short but sharp tournament, with the group matches likely to be bunched together within the opening ten days and the semi-final and final to fill the last few days.

U19 Asia Cup 2026 Schedule

While the exact dates and match schedules are yet to be announced, with the full itinerary to be given out upon the tournament's announcement by the ACC, this page will be updated with it as soon as it becomes available. Based on previous editions, the tournament is likely to run over roughly two weeks within the expected October window, with the group matches likely to be bunched together for the first ten days, with the semi-final and final to be played in the final few days. If the UAE is to host the event once again, matches will be shown at convenient times for Indian viewers, given that the UAE is only 1.5 hours behind IST.

U19 Asia Cup Past Winners

India may dominate this tournament's honours board, but looking at the last three winners, it is clear to see that the gap between them and the rest has been well closed, and India will be eager to redeem themselves before a ball is faced in the 2026 edition, in which they will be eager to restore their lead.

How To Watch The U19 Asia Cup 2026

Broadcast information will be announced alongside the tournament announcement, which has yet to happen. Recent editions of the youth cricket tournaments have been televised across the sub-continent, as well as being streamed regionally, but rights can vary per edition, so it is best to keep an eye on the ACC's official social media accounts rather than making any assumptions. Scores will be streamed on ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz throughout, with this page being updated with any information about the U19 Asia Cup 2026's broadcast as and when it becomes available.

Why This Youth Cricket Tournament Is Worth Following

A small highlight of players who have announced themselves at this level and have subsequently gone on to be international stars, with this list being far from exhaustive: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Babar Azam, Shubman Gill, Rashid Khan. This tournament serves as a scouting ground for the franchises that make up the global leagues, with the next two years determining which of these players will be snapped up by the IPL, Hundred or CPL – a mere year after winning this tournament, a player can expect to be on a franchise draft board. Anyone who follows the leagues should be watching this tournament, as it gives them a two-year advantage over the competition.

General Questions About The U19 Asia Cup 2026 (FAQs)

Last updated: 8th July 2026. Tournament window per ACC reports; host, teams, schedule and broadcasters to be added on confirmation. Last-edition data per ESPNcricinfo.