The Asia Cup 2025 is heating up as Bangladesh take on Hong Kong in the third match of the tournament on Thursday, September 11, at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. This encounter will be crucial for both sides, with Bangladesh aiming to begin their campaign with a win, while Hong Kong desperately look to stay alive in the competition after a poor start.
Match Details
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Match: Bangladesh vs Hong Kong, Match 3, Asia Cup 2025
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Date & Time: Thursday, September 11, 8:00 PM IST / 6:30 PM GST / 7:00 PM PST
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Venue: Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
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Live Broadcast: Sony Sports Network (India)
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Live Streaming: SonyLIV (App & Website), YuppTV (App & Website), RabbitholeBD (Bangladesh), PTV Sports & Daraz App (Pakistan), CricLife (UAE)
Team Overviews
Bangladesh
The Bengal Tigers, led by Litton Das, enter this Asia Cup with confidence after a successful run in recent T20I series. Bangladesh have won six of their last nine T20 matches, securing notable victories against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and the Netherlands. Their batting lineup looks stable, with Litton Das, Towhid Hridoy, and Tanzid Hasan providing firepower at the top. On the bowling side, the experience of Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed gives them balance and depth.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong, under the leadership of Yasim Murtaza, had a disappointing start to the tournament, suffering a 94-run defeat against Afghanistan in the opening game. Their batting collapsed under scoreboard pressure, and their bowlers struggled to contain the opposition. To keep their campaign alive, they need a collective effort against a stronger Bangladesh side. Experienced players like Babar Hayat, Anshuman Rath, and Nizakat Khan must step up if Hong Kong are to challenge the Tigers.
Key Players to Watch
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Litton Das (Bangladesh): The skipper has been in top form, scoring consistently in recent series. His role as an anchor and aggressor at the top will be vital.
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Taskin Ahmed (Bangladesh): With 12 wickets in his last five T20Is, Taskin is Bangladesh’s in-form strike bowler and could exploit Hong Kong’s shaky batting order.
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Babar Hayat (Hong Kong): A proven performer for Hong Kong, Hayat’s ability to stabilize and accelerate will be crucial if they want to post a competitive score.
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Yasim Murtaza (Hong Kong): The captain must lead from the front with both bat and ball to inspire his team after their heavy defeat.
Head-to-Head Record
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Matches Played: 1
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Bangladesh Wins: 0
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Hong Kong Wins: 1
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Last Meeting: March 20, 2014 – Hong Kong defeated Bangladesh in the 2014 T20 World Cup.
Probable Playing XIs
Bangladesh (BAN):
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 (HK):
Zeeshan Ali (WK), Babar Hayat, Anshuman Rath, Kalhan Challu, Nizakat Khan, Aizaz Khan, Kinchit Shah, Yasim Murtaza (C), Ayush Shukla, Ateeq Iqbal, Ehsan Khan
Pitch Report – Sheikh Zayed Stadium
The Abu Dhabi surface is known for being batter-friendly, especially under lights, allowing stroke-makers to play their shots freely. However, as the game progresses, spinners and slower bowlers come into play, making run-scoring tricky in the middle overs. Winning the toss could play a major role, and teams may prefer to bat first to set a strong total.
Probable Scenarios
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If Bangladesh bat first and Litton Das or Towhid Hridoy gets going, a score around 170–180 looks possible.
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Hong Kong will need early wickets to avoid chasing a daunting target.
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Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman are likely to trouble Hong Kong’s top order with the new ball.
Match Prediction
Bangladesh, with their superior form and balanced squad, are clear favorites in this clash. Hong Kong will have to play out of their skins to register an upset similar to 2014. Expect Bangladesh to dominate the contest and start their Asia Cup 2025 campaign with a comfortable win.
Prediction: Bangladesh to win convincingly.
