Abu Dhabi, September 11, 2025 – The stage is set at Zayed Cricket Stadium where Bangladesh will lock horns with Hong Kong, China in what promises to be an intriguing contest of the Asia Cup 2025.
For Hong Kong, China, this is nothing short of a survival battle. After a crushing defeat in their opening match against Afghanistan, they must win to keep their hopes alive. Their batting woes were exposed as they slumped to 94/9 while chasing Afghanistan’s 188. Apart from a fighting 39 by Babar Hayat, the rest of the batting unit lacked composure. Their bowlers too leaked runs, though Kinchit Shah stood out with tight middle-over spells. With new captain Yasim Murtaza and coach Kaushal Silva at the helm, Hong Kong entered the tournament hoping for fresh energy, but the gap in experience against top-tier sides remains glaring.
The challenge grows even tougher against Bangladesh, a team arriving with momentum and growing confidence. Fresh from a T20I series win over the Netherlands and a memorable triumph against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh appear more balanced than ever. Their bowling attack, led by Taskin Ahmed’s searing pace and Nasum Ahmed’s steady left-arm spin, has found consistency. Captain Litton Das is in sparkling form with the bat, while young openers Tanzid Hasan and Parvez Hossain Emon are eager to make their mark.
Still, questions linger over Bangladesh’s middle order, which has not yet been fully tested in high-pressure encounters. The Asia Cup could present that challenge, and today’s match might allow them to experiment before tougher games against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
For Hong Kong, China, the Abu Dhabi pitch may offer some hope. With its two-paced nature and early help for spinners, bowlers like Kinchit Shah and Ehsan Khan could trouble Bangladesh’s batting line-up. However, their over-dependence on Hayat and Anshy Rath with the bat remains a pressing concern.
This contest is therefore one of contrasting motives—Hong Kong fighting for survival, and Bangladesh determined to assert their supremacy. History, however, reminds us of cricket’s unpredictability. Hong Kong stunned Bangladesh in 2014, proving that underdogs can bite. Yet, given current form and resources, Bangladesh head into the game as overwhelming favourites to begin their Asia Cup campaign with a statement win.