DHAKA, Sept 11, 2025 (BSS)-Bangladesh begin their Asia Cup journey tonight by taking on Hong Kong at Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
        
The match starts at 8.30 PM (Bangladesh Time). T Sports and Nagorik TV will telecast the match live.

Bangladesh will start as the undisputed favourite against Hong Kong even though they lost the match by two wickets in their only meeting in this format back in 2014 World Cup in Chattogram.

The defeat against minnows Hong Kong, that too in front of a passionate home crowd, left them in an embarrassing situation, prompting a massive overhaul. 

Bangladesh thereafter became a giant in white-ball format, specially in ODI cricket but somehow failed to decode the T20 cricket. However, of late they showed their brilliance in this format too, winning three series in a row before going into the Asia Cup.

The past three series victory against Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Netherlands will be instrumental in motivating them, said captain Liton Das.

"I think we are well prepared for the Asia Cup. The tournament will be very challenging because all teams are well-equipped. We are ready to overcome the challenges. Surely, we will give our 100 percent," Liton said.

Hong Kong is considered as only easy opponent in their group and so Bangladesh will try to win it by big margin as the run rate issue may come to the fore at some point.

The other two teams in Bangladesh's group are Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh played three Asia Cup finals in the past and ended up being runners-up-firstly in 2012 when they came agonizingly close but eventually lost to Pakistan by two runs.

In 2016 and 2018, they lost the final to India. Liton Das hammered a scintillating century in 2018 final but that mattered little.

Liton, however, believes this time they can touch the elusive trophy.

"We haven't tasted the championship yet - but that is history. And history is made to be broken," Liton noted.
    
Hong Kong had already played a game against Afghanistan and lost it by 94 runs after being restricted to just 94-9, while chasing a 189-run target.

But its captain Nizakat Khan vowed to bring back the 2014 memory against Bangladesh.

Nizakat himself was the cornerstone of Hong Kong's famous victory by taking three wickets for 19 runs.

"It was very special because we beat Bangladesh in Bangladesh's backyard. We did very well, especially I did well," Nizakat recalled.

"We've the belief (to win). We have players who can win matches. And T20 is a game where the complexion of the match can be changed in one or two overs."

This will be the first match between the two sides in this format after 2014.

Bangladesh may leave out Towhid Hridoy after he went fifty-less in the last 12 innings. Saif Hasan is likely to retain his place after making comeback in Netherlands series.

Bangladesh: Liton Das (c), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Parvez Hossain Emon, Saif Hassan, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali Anik, Shamim Patwari, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Saifuddin

Hong Kong, China: Yasim Murtaza (c), Babar Hayat, Zeeshan Ali, Niazakat Khan Mohammad, Nasrulla Rana, Martin Coetzee, Anshuman Rath, Kalhan Marc Challu, Ayush Shukla, Mohammad Aizaz Khan, Ateeq ul Rehman Iqbal, Kinchit Shah, Ali Hassan, Shahid Wasif, Ghazanfar Mohammad, Mohammad Waheed, Ehsan Khan