Pakistan A won the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2023 with a 128-run triumph against India A in the final, at the M Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Here is our combined XI from the tournament.

Avishka Fernando (Sri Lanka A)

M 4, R 255, Ave 63.73, SR 103, 1 hundred, 1 fifty, HS: 133

Fernando lit up the tournament opener with a dazzling 133 against Bangladesh A. Up against a target of 323 in the semi-final against Pakistan A, he slammed 97 in 85 balls after Sri Lanka A were 33-3. The chase ran out of steam once he fell.

Abhishek Sharma (India A)

M 5, R 221, Ave 44.20, SR 98, 1 hundred, 1 fifty, HS: 108*
W 2, Ave 73.50, Ec 4.38, BBI: 1-19

Abhishek’s lowest score of the tournament was 19, and his 61 in the final kept India A in the game for some time into their chase. He scored at a brisk pace, and chipped in with the ball at various points in the tournament.

Omair Yousuf (Pakistan A)

M 5, R 183, Ave 36.60, SR 93, 1 fifty, HS: 88

Omair made 36 and 24 before falling for a duck in the league match against India A. He came to his elements in the semi-final, carving a 79-ball 88 against Sri Lanka A, before making a run-a-ball 35 in the final.

Tayyab Tahir (Pakistan A)

M 4, R 190, Ave 47.50, SR 110, 1 hundred, 1 fifty, HS: 108

Barring a fifty against Nepal, Tayyab had not impressed until the final, when he hit 12 fours and four sixes against a reasonably strong attack to smash 108 in 71 balls, leaving little doubt over the Player of the Match, though he also took a brilliant catch to dismiss Abhishek.

Yash Dhull (India A – captain)

M 5, R 234, Ave 117.00, SR 102, 1 hundred, 1 fifty, HS: 108*

Dhull slammed a hundred against UAE A and got a brisk 39 in the final, but his best performance came against Bangladesh A in the semi-final. His 66 was the highest score from either side as he lifted India A from 137-7 to a decisive 211.

Minod Bhanuka (Sri Lanka A – wicketkeeper)

M 4, R 186, Ave 46.50, SR 100, 1 hundred, 1 fifty, HS: 119
C 8, St 1

Bhanuka began with a 55-ball 57 against Bangladesh A, but his 119 against Afghanistan A was perhaps the better innings. He walked out after the first ball, saw Sri Lanka A slip to 102-7, and lifted them to 241 with a 103-ball 119. He was named Player of the Match despite the defeat.

Nishant Sandhu (India A)

M 5, W 11, Ave 11.81, Ec 3.90, 1 5WI, BBI: 5-20

Sandhu claimed 4-14 against Nepal, and bowled two tidy, economical spells against Pakistan. In the final, he was the only Indian to go at under six an over. But before that, he wrecked Bangladesh A to bowl them out for 160 after they were cruising at 94-1 in pursuit of 212.

Manav Suthar (India A)

M 5, W 10, Ave 19.50, Ec 4.20, BBI: 3-32

The most consistent Indian bowler of the tournament, Suthar triggered the collapse against Bangladesh A before Sandhu took over – after making a crucial 21 from No.9. In the league match against Pakistan A, too, he took three quick middle-order wickets.

Rajvardhan Hangargekar (India A)

M 4, W 10, Ave 13.40, Ec 5.82, 1 5WI, BBI: 5-42

Probing, if erratic at times, Hangargekar claimed 5-42 to bowl out Pakistan A for 205 in the league match, impressing on a Premadasa surface that offered little to his brand of bowling.

Sufiyan Muqeem (Pakistan A)

M 3, W 8, Ave 18.25, Ec 5.06, BBI: 3-36

Despite playing only thrice in the tournament, Muqeem shone every time. After taking 3-36 against UAE A, he claimed 2-44 to derail Sri Lanka A’s chase in the semi-final. In the final, he whisked out three key wickets to stop India A on their tracks.

Arshad Iqbal (Pakistan A)

M 3, W 7, Ave 11.00, Ec 4.62, 1 5WI, BBI: 5-27

Arshad played the same three matches as Muqeem. His early strikes wrecked Sri Lanka A in the semi-final, and he claimed 2-34 as India A attempted a steep chase.