ACC Men’s Premier Cup 2026 Teams – Squads, Captains & Groups

The ACC Men’s Premier Cup 2026 gathers ten of Asia’s leading associate nations in Malaysia, all chasing the single qualification prize that leads to the 2027 Asia Cup. The teams are split into two groups of five for a 50-over campaign where squad depth will decide who survives.

With the tournament starting on August 30, boards are finalising their selections, and Nepal have already confirmed a new-look squad under a new captain. Established sides such as UAE and Oman sit alongside ambitious Gulf and Southeast Asian teams, each carrying its own core of experienced names.

In this article, we cover the participating teams, their captains, confirmed and most recent squads, key players, and the tournament format.

When Does the ACC Men’s Premier Cup 2026 Take Place?

The ACC Men’s Premier Cup 2026 runs from August 30 to September 12, 2026, hosted by Malaysia across two grounds: Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur and the YSD-UKM Cricket Oval in Bangi. Ten teams contest a single round-robin inside two groups before the semifinals and final decide who claims the associate route to the Asia Cup.

Selections are being confirmed in the weeks leading up to the opener. Nepal named their squad on August 10, handing the one-day captaincy to Sandeep Lamichhane, while Oman appointed Vinayak Shukla as captain in July 2026. Several other boards had not published their full 2026 lists at the time of writing, so the sections below pair confirmed squads with each side’s most recent leadership and player core, clearly labelled as such.

The ACC 10-Team List

Ten nations will meet on the field, five in each group, blending Premier Cup regulars with sides pushing for a first deep run. The snapshot below sets out every team, its short code, its captain, and the headline it carries into Malaysia.

Captaincy is confirmed for 2026 in the cases of Nepal, Oman, UAE and Hong Kong, China; for the remaining teams, the names below reflect each side’s most recent leadership pending official confirmation for this edition.

1. Nepal (NEP)

Nepal are the only side to enter with a fully confirmed 2026 squad, and it comes with a leadership shake-up: leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane takes over the one-day captaincy from long-serving skipper Rohit Paudel, who stays on as a senior batter. The 14-member group blends Nepal’s spin strength with a settled top order.

As 2023 Premier Cup winners and the only associate team here with regular ODI pedigree, Nepal start as one of the favourites. Lamichhane’s return to the captaincy adds a wicket-taking threat through the middle overs, and with Airee, Paudel and Karan KC providing experience, the depth looks well suited to 50-over cricket on Malaysian pitches.

2. Hong Kong, China (HK)

Hong Kong, China arrive under Yasim Murtaza, the spin-bowling all-rounder who took over the captaincy from Nizakat Khan. Their full 2026 squad had not been published at the time of writing, but the leadership and senior core are established.

Hong Kong lean on a battle-hardened batting group in Nizakat Khan and Babar Hayat, both long-serving internationals, with Murtaza offering control with the ball. If their recent core carries into Malaysia, they have the experience to trouble any side in Group A, though converting that potential into results has been their long-running challenge.

3. Malaysia (MAS)

Hosts Malaysia build around Virandeep Singh, their captain and standout all-rounder, who earned attention as an associate name featured in the IPL 2026 auction process. Home conditions give Malaysia a genuine edge, even with their full 2026 list still to be confirmed.

Playing on familiar surfaces at Bayuemas Oval and Bangi, Malaysia will fancy their chances of a strong group-stage run. Virandeep Singh’s all-round value gives them a match-winner in both disciplines, and the support of a home crowd could be the difference in tight contests against the Gulf sides.

4. Bahrain (BAH)

Bahrain return to the Premier Cup led by Haider Butt, with a squad drawn largely from their experienced Gulf-based core. The full 2026 list was not published at the time of writing.

Bahrain sit among the developing teams in Group A and will look to spring a surprise against the more established names. Their route forward depends on their senior batters setting a foundation and their bowlers defending par totals, the same balancing act that defines cricket at this level.

5. Saudi Arabia (KSA)

Saudi Arabia, captained by Hisham Sheikh, are one of the region’s fastest-growing cricket programmes and return to the top tier of associate competition. Their full 2026 squad remained unannounced at the time of writing.

With backing behind their domestic setup, Saudi Arabia arrive with ambition even if a knockout place would represent real progress. Hisham Sheikh’s leadership and a core of settled players give them a platform, and every competitive showing at this level helps their longer-term push up the associate ladder.

6. United Arab Emirates (UAE)

The defending champions arrive under Muhammad Waseem, the aggressive opener who lifted the 2024 title. That triumph came in T20 cricket, so the UAE now defend their crown across 50 overs, and their confirmed 2026 squad had not been released at the time of writing.

The UAE carry arguably the deepest all-round resources in Group B, with Waseem’s power at the top and a spin-and-seam mix built through years of ICC and ACC competition. Defending a title without home advantage, and in a longer format than they won it, makes their campaign one of the tournament’s key storylines.

7. Oman (OMA)

Oman enter a new era under wicketkeeper-batter Vinayak Shukla, who succeeded Jatinder Singh as captain in July 2026. Runners-up in 2024, they retain a strong List A pedigree, though their full 2026 squad was not confirmed at the time of writing.

Oman’s blend of experienced all-rounders and their ongoing World Cup League 2 involvement keeps them among the strongest 50-over associate sides in Asia. Shukla inherits a settled group, and with senior names such as Jatinder Singh and Zeeshan Maqsood still central, Oman look well placed to challenge deep into the tournament.

8. Kuwait (KUW)

Kuwait, led by Mohammad Aslam, step up to the Premier Cup stage with a squad built from their regular Gulf competition core. Their full 2026 list had not been announced at the time of writing.

Grouped alongside UAE and Oman in Group B, Kuwait face a demanding path, but tournaments like this are where associate sides measure their progress. A disciplined bowling effort and a couple of standout individual displays could make them a difficult opponent on their day.

9. Qatar (QAT)

Qatar arrive under Muhammad Tanveer, aiming to translate consistent Gulf-level performances into a run at the knockouts. Their confirmed 2026 squad was not published at the time of writing.

Qatar’s cricket has grown steadily on the back of a strong expatriate playing base, and Tanveer leads a side capable of competing hard in Group B. Progress will hinge on their batting depth holding up against the group’s stronger attacks across a demanding schedule.

10. Singapore (SIN)

Singapore complete the Group B lineup, stepping in among the region’s associate contenders. The captain and full squad for 2026 were still to be confirmed at the time of writing, though the side has recognised names in its recent player pool.

Singapore will look to their experienced hands in Manpreet Singh and Aritra Dutta to anchor performances against a tough Group B field. As one of the developing names in the draw, a competitive campaign and the odd upset would mark a successful outing in Malaysia.

Tournament Format & Playoff Architecture

The competition uses a straightforward two-group structure that feeds a four-team knockout. The playoff architecture works as follows:

• Ten teams are split into Group A and Group B, five teams each.
• Every side plays the other four in its group once, a single round-robin, for 20 group matches in total.
• The top two teams from each group advance to the semifinals.
• Semifinal 1 pairs the Group A winner against the Group B runner-up; Semifinal 2 pairs the Group B winner against the Group A runner-up.
• The losing semifinalists meet in a third-place playoff, while the winners contest the final on September 12.
• The champion earns the associate qualification place that leads toward the Asia Cup.

Rising Stars to Watch

Beyond the established captains, a handful of younger names could shape the tournament. UAE’s Aayan Afzal Khan, a left-arm spinner and lower-order hitter, has grown into a genuine match-winner in associate cricket, while Nepal’s Gulshan Jha and Dev Khanal add youthful energy to an experienced core.

Host nation Malaysia will hope Virandeep Singh’s rising profile, underlined by his inclusion in the IPL 2026 auction process, translates into standout home performances. For sides still building their programmes, this Premier Cup is exactly the stage where a breakout player can announce themselves against quality opposition.

Conclusion: Ten Squads, One Champion Of ACC Men’s 2026

The ACC Men’s Premier Cup 2026 brings together ten associate nations whose squads range from fully confirmed to still-forming, with Nepal setting the pace by naming a new-look group under Sandeep Lamichhane. Defending champions UAE, 2024 runners-up Oman and hosts Malaysia headline the rest.

As boards finalise their selections before the August 30 opener, the balance of experienced leaders and emerging talent across the two groups points to a competitive fortnight in Malaysia.

Every squad here is chasing the same reward: the champion secures the coveted associate route toward the Asia Cup, giving each team on this list a clear and compelling reason to peak in Malaysia.