The Asia Cup 2025 is about to start, and for the very first time, a total of 8 teams will be featuring in this competition. The 17th edition of the Asia Cup starts on September 9 and ends on September 28.
While Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates have featured in this tournament before, it will be the very first time that Oman will be playing in this competition.
In this article, we will be exploring what you need to know about these associate teams.
Hong Kong:
Hong Kong’s path to the 2025 Asia Cup has not been a straightforward one. In the 2024 ACC Men’s Premier Cup, they had to demonstrate their abilities against other associate nations. They won a spot alongside more powerful cricketing nations by finishing in the top three, thanks to their energetic efforts.
It is not their first time featuring in the Asia Cup, as they also appeared in the 2004, 2008, 2018, and 2022 editions. Nevertheless, they are yet to beat a Test-playing nation in the Asia Cup, and if anything, the Hong Kong side will look to break this curse under new and young captain Yasim Murtaza.
Group:
Hong Kong has been placed in Group B and will face Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka
Fixture:
September 9:vs Hong Kong – Abu Dhabi
September 11:vs Bangladesh – Abu Dhabi
September 15:vs Sri Lanka – Dubai
Squad:
Yasim Murtaza (c), Babar Hayat, Zeeshan Ali, Niazakat Khan Mohammad, Nasrulla Rana, Martin Coetzee, Anshuman Rath, Kalhan Marc Challu, Ayush Ashish Shukla, Mohammad Aizaz Khan, Ateeq ul Rehman Iqbal, Kinchit Shah, Adil Mehmood, Haroon Mohammad Arshad, Ali Hassan, Shahid Wasif, Ghazanfar Mohammad, Mohammad Waheed, Anas Khan, Ehsan Khan.
Strengths:
- Their spin attack is strong, as bowlers like Ehsan Khan and Ghazanfar Mohammad are expected to thrive on the slow pitches of the UAE.
- They have plenty of all-round options in this squad, as players like Yasim, Nizakat Khan, and Aizaz Khan can contribute well in both the batting and bowling departments.
Weaknesses:
- One can say their players may lack quality and experience compared to the top teams like Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka.
- Another concern is their overreliance on key players. If experienced batters like Hayat or Rath fail to deliver, the middle and lower order often struggle to pick up the slack.
- Last but not least, the side may struggle against high pace since they do not play against top sides regularly.
Players to Watch Out For:
Yasim Murtaza:
The captain’s all-round skills will be crucial for the side. Overall, he has played 63 T20I matches and scored 746 runs at a strike rate of 116. Meanwhile, he has taken 70 wickets at an economy of 6.33.
Babar Hayat:
His experience makes him the most valuable player on the team. He has played 95 T20Is so far and has scored more than 2,000 runs in his T20I career. Moreover, he has scored the fastest T20I century for Hong Kong to date.
Anshuman Rath:
Rath is another experienced and dependable player in this squad. He has scored over 1,800 runs in this format thus far at a strike rate of 121.
Ayush Shukla:
Ayush is a young and energetic pacer in this lineup and can disturb the best in the business with his pace and swing. Not so long ago, Shukla bowled four maiden overs in a T20I match, joining Lockie Ferguson and Saad Bin Zafar in the elite list.
For Hong Kong, the Asia Cup 2025 is about more than just results, it’s about exposure and growth. While lifting the trophy may be a distant dream, competing against top Asian sides provides invaluable experience.
