Asia Cup: Riding on hat-trick win, Bangladesh look for clinical start vs Hong Kong

Bangladesh and Hong Kong will be up against each other in a crucial Group B clash on Thursday, September 11 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

The Tigers, led by Litton Das, enter the Asia Cup brimming with confidence after clinching three consecutive T20I series wins against Pakistan, the Netherlands, and Sri Lanka. Not only did they defeat Pakistan and Sri Lanka, but they also secured their maiden T20I series victories over both Asian rivals. Against the Netherlands, Bangladesh registered a convincing 2-0 triumph.

Bangladesh have featured in three Asia Cup finals—in 2012, 2016, and 2018—but fell short on each occasion. For Litton, however, history may matter little, as the focus is firmly on shaping a brighter future. After all, he remains the only Bangladesh captain to win four T20I series.

“The past is history now; history is meant to be broken. We will try to play well. That will be a challenge; it won’t be easy. We will try to improve as a team,” Litton said in the captains’ press conference in Dubai.

“We have played three series recently and played well. Every player is excited. Every team is good in the Asia Cup; we have to give our best. The main challenge is that we have got to give our hundred per cent to win matches,” Litton added.

Even before the start of their campaign, Bangladesh find themselves in a tricky position. Afghanistan have boosted their net run rate to +4.700 after a commanding 94-run win over Hong Kong. With Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka expected to be the frontrunners in the group, the margin for error is already slim in the race for a place in the next round.

Can Hong Kong turn it around?

For Hong Kong, the Asia Cup has already turned precarious. Their heavy defeat to Afghanistan dented their net run rate and pushed them to the bottom of the table. Another loss to Bangladesh would all but end their campaign, leaving them reliant on unlikely permutations and combinations to stay in contention for qualification.

After the heavy defeat to Afghanistan, skipper Yasim Murtuza praised Babar Hayat and the spinners for their wholehearted efforts. Babar fought a lone battle with a 43-ball 39 before falling to Gulbadin Naib, while Murtuza admitted that Azmatullah Omarzai’s 53-run knock was the decisive factor that took the match away from Hong Kong.

“It just feels like a dream come true (On playing the Asia Cup). It is one of the biggest tournaments in Asia. To be honest, we weren't expecting that kind of total. I was expecting 150. Credit to Omarzai, he changed the game. Babar Hayat with the bat and the spinners were positives from the game,” Murtuza said.

Interestingly, Hong Kong won their only meeting against Bangladesh in the 2014 Men’s T20 World Cup, defeating the Tigers by two wickets in Chattogram.

Bangladesh vs Hong Kong: Pitch Report

The average score from 69 T20Is in Abu Dhabi is 145, suggesting that high-scoring games are not the norm. However, with Afghanistan posting 188 on Tuesday, a big total cannot be ruled out, especially from Bangladesh. Both pacers and spinners are expected to find assistance from the conditions.

Bangladesh vs Hong Kong: Match Details

Bangladesh and Hong Kong will play at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The match will start at 8 pm IST.

Bangladesh vs Hong Kong: Livestreaming

The tournament will be livestreamed on the SonyLiv app. The matches will also be broadcast on Sony Sports Network.

Bangladesh vs Hong Kong: Probable Playing XIs

Bangladesh Probable Playing XI

Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Parvez Hossain Emon, Litton Das (C & WK), Saif Hassan, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali Anik, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman

Hong Kong Probable Playing XI

Zeeshan Ali (wk), Babar Hayat, Anshuman Rath, Kalhan Challu, Nizakat Khan, Aizaz Khan, Kinchit Shah, Yasim Murtaza (c), Ayush Shukla, Ateeq Iqbal, Ehsan Khan