Pakistan will take on Hong Kong, China in Quarterfinal 1 of the Men’s Asian Games 2026 cricket competition at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on Monday, September 28. The two sides will battle for a place in the semifinals, with Pakistan entering the knockout stage as one of the tournament’s seeded teams.
Pakistan have brought an inexperienced but talented squad to the Asian Games. Led by Sahibzada Farhan, the side features several players with strong T20 credentials, including Saim Ayub, Maaz Sadaqat, Abrar Ahmed and Sufyan Moqim. Pakistan will look to handle the pressure of the knockout stage and secure a place in the last four.
Hong Kong, China reached the quarterfinals after winning one and losing one of their group-stage matches. They suffered an eight-wicket defeat against Malaysia before recovering with a 41-run victory over Oman. They now face a considerably tougher challenge against Pakistan and will need a disciplined performance with both bat and ball.
PAK vs HKG: Match details
| Match | Pakistan vs Hong Kong, China, Quarterfinal 1, Men’s Asian Games 2026 |
|---|---|
| Date | Monday, September 28, 2026 |
| Time | 5:30 AM IST |
| Venue | Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin |
| Competition | Men’s Asian Games 2026 |
Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin: Pitch report
The surface at Korogi Sports Park has generally favoured bowlers, with the slower conditions making stroke-making difficult for batters. Spinners have played an important role throughout the tournament, while teams have struggled to score freely in the middle overs.
Batters will need to spend time at the crease before attacking, while bowlers who vary their pace and maintain tight lines could have a significant impact.
PAK vs HKG: Head-to-head record in T20Is
| Matches Played | 2 |
|---|---|
| Won by Pakistan | 2 |
| Won by Hong Kong, China | 0 |
| No Results | 0 |
| First-ever fixture | September 2, 2022 |
| Most recent fixture | October 3, 2023 |
Pakistan have won both previous T20I meetings between the two sides and will look to maintain that record in the quarterfinal.
PAK vs HKG: Predicted playing XIs
Pakistan
Sahibzada Farhan (C), Saim Ayub, Usman Khan (WK), Hasan Nawaz, Haider Ali, Abdul Samad, Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Abrar Ahmed, Sufyan Moqim, Ahmed Daniyal
Hong Kong, China
Nizakat Khan, Anshuman Rath, Babar Hayat, Shiv Mathur, Yasim Murtaza (C), Shahid Wasif (WK), Ehsan Khan, Ayush Shukla, Nasrulla Rana, Hafeez Khan, Mohammad Ghazanfar
PAK vs HKG: Probable best performers
Probable Best Batter: Sahibzada Farhan
Sahibzada Farhan will be one of Pakistan’s key batting figures in the knockout stage. The Pakistan captain finished the 2026 T20 World Cup as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 383 runs and will be expected to provide a strong start at the top of the order.
Probable Best Bowler: Sufyan Moqim
Sufyan Moqim could be particularly effective on the slow surface in Nisshin. The left-arm wrist-spinner has been in impressive form, taking 10 wickets across his last three matches, including two four-wicket hauls. His ability to create pressure through the middle overs could prove crucial.
PAK vs HKG: Match prediction
Pakistan have greater experience and depth across their squad, while their strong bowling options should suit the conditions at Korogi Sports Park. Hong Kong, China have already shown that they can compete in the tournament, but they will need a significant improvement from their batting unit to challenge Pakistan.
Pakistan have the stronger squad on paper and will look to secure a semifinal place with a win in the opening quarterfinal.
