Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan is set to play alongside Pakistan’s Iftikhar Ahmed and Sohail Tanvir for the Asia Warriors at the inaugural World T20 Continent Cup in Hong Kong in December 2026.
The tournament will bring together former international cricketers in a four-team T20 competition featuring Asia Warriors, Africa Lions, Europe Champions and North America Eagles. According to the tournament details reported by Gulf News on October 13, nine matches are planned, including the final.
The organisers have announced a 24-player Asia Warriors squad, with representatives from several Asian cricketing nations. The full fixture schedule has yet to be announced.
Dhawan returns to the field in a new format
Dhawan’s inclusion brings one of India’s best-known limited-overs batters into a tournament built around experienced international players.
The left-handed batter retired from all forms of cricket on August 24, 2024, bringing an end to an international career spanning more than a decade. According to the International Cricket Council (ICC), he scored 10,867 international runs across 34 Tests, 167 One-Day Internationals and 68 T20 Internationals.
One of Dhawan’s defining achievements came in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. He scored 363 runs in five matches, finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer and was named Player of the Tournament as India won the title.
His participation in the Hong Kong event offers fans another opportunity to watch the former opener in a competitive T20 setting, although the tournament is separate from official international cricket.
Pakistan’s Iftikhar Ahmed and Sohail Tanvir join Asia Warriors
Pakistan’s Iftikhar Ahmed and left-arm fast bowler Sohail Tanvir are also named in the Asia Warriors group.
Iftikhar is an experienced batter and off-spin option who has represented Pakistan in international cricket. Tanvir was part of Pakistan’s victorious 2009 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign and has played in franchise T20 competitions.
Their selection alongside Dhawan creates an India-Pakistan combination within a shared team rather than an international fixture between the two countries.
The squad also includes Indian leg-spinner Rahul Sharma and Bangladesh’s experienced players Rubel Hossain and Mahmudullah Riyad, according to the published tournament announcement.
Four teams planned for the Hong Kong tournament
The World T20 Continent Cup is designed around continental teams rather than the traditional national-team format.
The four announced sides are:
- Asia Warriors: Players representing Asian cricketing nations.
- Africa Lions: A team representing Africa.
- Europe Champions: A team representing Europe.
- North America Eagles: A team representing North America.
The tournament is scheduled for December 2026 in Hong Kong. Organisers have indicated that more than 60 former international players are expected to feature across the teams, with nine matches planned over the event.
The final match dates, venues and complete fixture list remain to be confirmed in the information available for this report.
For cricket followers, the tournament offers a different kind of contest: established players from different national backgrounds competing together under continental team identities. Dhawan’s selection, alongside two Pakistan cricketers, is one of the event’s early talking points.
Further details about match timings, ticket availability and the final team lists will depend on announcements from the organisers.
Q1. Which team will Shikhar Dhawan play for in Hong Kong?
Shikhar Dhawan is named in the Asia Warriors squad for the World T20 Continent Cup scheduled for December 2026.
Q2. Will Shikhar Dhawan play alongside Pakistan’s Iftikhar Ahmed?
Yes. The announced Asia Warriors squad includes Dhawan and Pakistan’s Iftikhar Ahmed.
Q3. Who is the other Pakistan player joining Asia Warriors?
Sohail Tanvir, the former Pakistan left-arm fast bowler, is also named in the team.
Q4. When will the World T20 Continent Cup take place?
The tournament is scheduled for December 2026. The complete match schedule was not available in the sources consulted.
Q5. Where will the World T20 Continent Cup be held?
Hong Kong is the announced host city.
Q6. Which teams will compete in the tournament?
The four announced teams are Asia Warriors, Africa Lions, Europe Champions and North America Eagles.
Q7. Has Shikhar Dhawan retired from international cricket?
Yes. The ICC reported that Dhawan announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on August 24, 2024. His inclusion in the new tournament is separate from representing India in international cricket.
Q8. When will the Asia Warriors fixtures be announced?
The full fixture schedule was not available in the information reviewed for this article. Readers should check announcements from the tournament organisers for confirmed dates and match timings.
