Afghanistan kicked off the Asia Cup with a bang by winning the toss and choosing to bat first against Hong Kong in their opener at Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The match is underway on Tuesday, and fans are already buzzing about this exciting T20 clash.
Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan shared his thoughts at the toss, explaining why they went for batting first. "We want to put a strong total on the board since the pitch looks perfect for batting," he said. Rashid added that a good score would give their bowlers an edge, especially in the middle overs of the T20 game. He kept it positive, noting that the toss doesn’t matter much in this format – it’s all about staying focused and grabbing wickets. Even with their recent success in other tournaments, the team is laser-focused on winning today. Oh, and there’s one key change: Gulbadin Naib is back in the lineup, boosting their Asia Cup squad.
Over on the Hong Kong side, captain Yasim Murtaza was all smiles despite losing the toss. They had hoped to bowl first, but he’s pumped to take on the challenge. "We’re thrilled to be here after grinding through the qualifiers with solid cricket," Yasim said. As a leader, he’s especially eager to watch young talent Kalhan Marc Challu shine on this big Asia Cup stage. It’s a proud moment for Hong Kong, making their debut against a strong Afghanistan team in the Asia Cup 2023.
For those following the live action, here’s the full playing XI for both sides in this Asia Cup opener:
Afghanistan XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (c), Noor Ahmad, AM Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Hong Kong XI: Yasim Murtaza (c), Zeeshan Ali (wk), Nizakat Khan, Anshuman Rath, Babar Hayat, Ehsan Khan, Kalhan Marc Challu, Ayush Shukla, Aizaz Khan, Ateeq Iqbal, Kinchit Shah.
Stay tuned for updates on this thrilling Asia Cup match – who will come out on top in the Afghanistan vs Hong Kong showdown?
