ACC Men’s Premier Cup 2026 Teams: Full Squads & Players

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 and qualifies for the T20 Asia Cup in 2027.

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

In this article, we cover the teams, 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 of five before the semifinals and final decide who claims the associate route to the Asia Cup.

Selections are being confirmed in the weeks before the opener. Nepal named their squad on August 10, handing the one-day captaincy to Sandeep Lamichhane, and the Emirates Cricket Board followed on August 27 with a rebuilt UAE group under Harpreet Singh Bhatia. 

Oman appointed Vinayak Shukla as captain in July. Several other boards are yet to publish a full 2026 list at the time of writing.

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, and the snapshot below sets out every team, its short code, group, captain and the headline it carries into Malaysia.

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

1. Nepal (NEP)

Nepal enter with a fully confirmed 14-player squad named on August 10, and it comes with a leadership shake-up. Leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane takes over the one-day captaincy from Rohit Paudel, who stays on as a senior batter. The group blends Nepal’s spin strength with a settled top order.

As 2023 Premier Cup winners and the only associate side here with regular ODI pedigree, Nepal start among the favourites. Lamichhane’s return adds a wicket-taking threat through the middle overs, and with Airee, Paudel and Karan KC providing experience, the depth suits 50-over cricket on Malaysian pitches.

2. Hong Kong, China (HK)

Hong Kong, China arrive under Yasim Murtaza, the spin-bowling all-rounder who has led the side recently. Their full 2026 squad had not been published at the time of writing, but the leadership and senior core are established, and they enter after wins over Bahrain, Uganda and Tanzania in the Challenge League.

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

3. Malaysia (MAS)

Hosts Malaysia build around Virandeep Singh, their captain and one of the associate game’s most accomplished all-rounders. They returned through the Challenger Cup, beating Singapore by six wickets in the final, and now carry home advantage.

Playing on familiar surfaces at Bayuemas Oval and Bangi, Malaysia will fancy 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, though they arrive with recent 50-over cricket behind them after beating Singapore and Uganda in the Challenge League.

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 senior batters setting a foundation and bowlers defending par totals, the 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, Malaysia plays Saudi Arabia in Group A on September 1 at Bayuemas Oval 

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 helps their longer-term push up the associate ladder.

6. United Arab Emirates (UAE)

The defending champions confirmed their 14-player squad through the Emirates Cricket Board on August 27, naming seasoned batter Harpreet Singh Bhatia as captain. It is a notably rebuilt group from the side that won the 2024 title under Muhammad Waseem, part of a wider UAE reboot.

UAE have picked several wicketkeeping options and a varied bowling attack around Aayan Afzal Khan’s left-arm spin. The 2024 title was won in the T20 format, while the 2026 Premier Cup is played over 50 overs under the ACC’s standard format for all ten teams, and Bhatia’s side begin their defence in Malaysia. 

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 Premier Cup 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 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, and they open against Singapore.

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 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, and they begin against defending champions the UAE on August 31.

Qatar’s cricket has grown steadily on the back of a strong expatriate playing base. They finished level on points with Hong Kong, China in the 2024 group stage but missed the semifinals on net run rate, and batting depth will again be key across a demanding schedule.

10. Singapore (SIN)

Singapore complete the Group B lineup after qualifying as Challenger Cup runners-up, losing that final to Malaysia. 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 experienced hands such as Manpreet Singh, who captained their Challenger Cup run with several important all-round performances, to anchor efforts against a tough Group B field. 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, and 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 on September 10.
• 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 2027 Asia Cup.

Conclusion: Ten Squads Chasing One ACC Men’s Premier Cup

The ACC Men’s Premier Cup 2026 brings together ten associate nations whose squads range from fully confirmed to still-forming. Nepal and defending champions the UAE set the pace, naming rebuilt groups under Sandeep Lamichhane and Harpreet Singh Bhatia, while 2024 runners-up Oman and hosts Malaysia headline the chasing pack.

As the remaining 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’s route toward the Asia Cup, giving each team a clear reason to peak.