The 2026 ACC Men's Challenger Cup was the third edition of the ACC Men's Challenger Cup, hosted by the Singapore Cricket Association from 10 to 20 June 2026. Ten associate teams competed in 16 matches across two venues in Singapore. Saudi Arabia were the defending champions in both 20-over and 50-over formats; whom had directly advanced to the 2026 ACC Men's Premier Cup. Hosts Singapore were defeated in the final by Malaysia, who won their maiden title. Both, Malaysia and Singapore also advanced to the 2026 Premier Cup.
Background The ACC Men's Challenger Cup is a biennial international cricket competition in limited overs cricket format (an alternating format of 50-overs and 20-overs cricket), organised by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) since its inauguration in 2023. The competition is played by the associate members of the ACC, with the top teams advancing to the ACC Men's Premier Cup to determine qualification for the Asia Cup and the Asia Cup Rising Stars. Saudi Arabia were the defending champions having won the 2023 edition in 50-over format and the 2024 edition in 20-over format; whom did not play in the 2026 edition as they had directly advanced to the 2026 Premier Cup.
Format The 10 participating teams were divided into four groups: two groups of three teams and two groups of two teams. In the group stage, each team played each of the other teams in the group once in a round-robin format for 8 matches, and the top two teams in each group advanced to the knockout stage. The knockout stage consisted of four quarter-finals, two semi-finals, a third-place play-off and a final. In the 2026 tournament, all the matches were played in 50-over format without international status.
Teams The top 8 teams from the 2024 Premier Cup directly qualified for the 2026 Premier Cup, while the next ranked 10 teams in the ICC T20I rankings: Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Uzbekistan played in the Challenger Cup.
Venues
The tournament was played across 2 venues in Singapore: 10 matches at Singapore National Cricket Ground (including quarter-finals 2 and 4, semi-final 2 and final) and 6 matches at Singa Oval (including quarter-finals 1 and 3, semi-final 1 and 3rd place play-off). Select the specific edition of the event in the first dropdown menu.
Squads
Following squads were announced for the tournament: Bhutan: Namgang Chejay (wk), Sonam Chophel (wk), Tashi Chophel, Karma Dorji, Ranjung Dorji (c), Tashi Dorji, Gakul Ghalley, Anand Mongar, Tashi Phuntsho, Tenjin Rabgey, Jigme Singye, Tsering Tashi (wk), Namgay Thinley, Sonam Yeshey Maldives: Ismail Ali, Yapa Ashan, Mohamed Azzam (wk), Azyan Farhath, Shafraz Jaleel, Abdulla Ibrahim Mabsar, Savindra Manjusri, Ameel Mauroof, Mohamed Miuvaan, Hassan Rasheed (c), Mohamed Rishwan, Ibrahim Rizan, Leem Shafeeq, Harsha Shanaka Myanmar: Htet Lin Aung (c), Myat Thu Aung, Khin Aye (wk), Paing Danu, Nay Lin Htun, Sai Hla Htwe, Aung Ko Ko, Kuang Htet Ko Ko, Kyaw Zin Lin, Htet Lin Oo, Nyein Cham Soe, Ko Ko Lin Thu, Ye Naing Tun (wk), Pyae Phyo Wai Singapore: Mahiyu Bhatia, Suryansh Gulecha, Girin Gune, Aslan Jafri, Arkin Kesar, Hari Kukreja, Riaan Naik, Jeevan Santhanam, Manpreet Singh (c), Raheel Thakkar, Daksh Tyagi, Aaron Varghese, Harsh Venkataram, Kapish Venkatraman Thailand: Chaloemwong Chatphaisan, Phatummakan Donkaew, Pattarapol Jirapatananukul, Austin Lazarus (c), Sarawut Maliwan, Chanchai Pengkumta, Satarut Rungrueang, Yodsak Saranonnakkun, Kamron Senamontree, Nopphon Senamontree, Phiriyapong Suanchuai (wk), Phanuphong Thongsa, Aruesanan Wichakam, Akshaykumar Yadav Uzbekistan: Syed Ahzamul Haq, Luqman Hussain, Kamron, Azizjon Khasanov, Amirxon Khakimov, Asadbek Musaev, Javohir Mustafoev, Nikhil (wk), Oybek Qudratov, Shermukhammad (c), Golib Tuychiev (wk), Ulugbek Tuychiev, Saif Ullah, Muhammad Zain
Group stage In the group stage, two groups of three teams and two groups of two teams played in a round-robin format for a total of 8 matches from 10 to 13 June 2026. The top two teams from each group: Malaysia and China from group A, Singapore and Maldives from group B, Thailand and Bhutan from group C and Indonesia and Uzbekistan from group D advanced to the knockout stage.
Group A Group B Group C Group D
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Knockout stage The knockout stage consisted of four quarter-finals played on 15 and 16 June, two semi-finals played on 18 June, a 3rd place play-off and a final played on 20 June. The top two teams (winners of the semi-finals / finalists): Malaysia and Singapore qualified for the 2026 ACC Men's Premier Cup.
Bracket
Sources:
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
3rd place play-off
Final
See also
2026 ACC Women's Premier Cup
References