The third match of the Asia Cup 2025 will be played between Bangladesh and Hong Kong at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on September 11. This will be Bangladesh's first match of the tournament, while Hong Kong will be taking the field for their second encounter.
Sports News: The third exciting match of the Asia Cup 2025 will be played between Bangladesh and Hong Kong. This match will be held at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on September 11. This will be Bangladesh's first match of the tournament, while Hong Kong will enter the field for their second contest.
Hong Kong faced defeat against Afghanistan in their first match, and thus, the team will be looking to make a comeback. Let's find out what the pitch in Abu Dhabi will be like and who will benefit, batsmen or bowlers.
Sheikh Zayed Stadium Pitch Report
The pitch at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium is considered favorable for batsmen. In the last 10 T20 matches played here, the average score has been 176 runs, indicating that scoring runs is achievable. However, the role of the toss becomes extremely crucial here. According to statistics, teams winning the toss in Abu Dhabi often prefer to bowl first to put pressure on the opposition.
Fast bowlers have performed exceptionally well on this ground. In the last 10 matches, 82 percent of the total wickets have been taken by the pace attack. The strategy adopted is to exploit the swing of fast bowlers and the flatness of the pitch to take early wickets. Therefore, batsmen will need to be cautious during the powerplay overs.
The highest score recorded at this venue is 225 runs, while the lowest score is 121 runs. This clearly shows that after weathering the initial pressure, batsmen get an opportunity to build big innings and dominate the scoreboard.
Bangladesh and Hong Kong's Performance in Abu Dhabi
The record of both teams in Abu Dhabi has not been particularly impressive. Bangladesh has played a total of 2 T20 matches at this venue and has lost both. Hence, the team will be eager to start the tournament with a win. Led by captain Litton Das, the team appears balanced, and a b comeback is expected from the experienced players.
On the other hand, Hong Kong has played a total of 11 T20 matches at this venue, winning only 3 and losing 8. The defeat against Afghanistan in their previous match has increased the team's challenge. The team will aim to improve their performance against Bangladesh and strengthen their position in the points table.
Only one T20 match has been played between the two teams so far, in which Bangladesh faced defeat. Therefore, this match presents an opportunity for Hong Kong to gain a psychological advantage, while Bangladesh will be looking to solidify their position in the tournament with a win.
Probable Playing XI for Both Teams
Bangladesh: Litton Das (Captain), Tanzid Hasan, Mohammad Parvez Hossain, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, and Mustafizur Rahman.
Hong Kong: Zeeshan Ali (Wicketkeeper), Babar Hayat, Anshuman Rath, Kahlhan Challu, Nizakat Khan, Aizaz Khan, K.D. Shah, Yasim Murtaza (Captain), Ayush Shukla, Ateeq Iqbal, and Ehsan Khan.
