Pakistan will lock horns with Hong Kong in a virtual knockout Group A match in Asia Cup 2022 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday, September 2. The match will start at 7:30 PM Indian Standard Time (IST).
Both Pakistan and Hong Kong have suffered defeats in their respective opening Asia Cup fixture against a Rohit Sharma-led Indian team. They need to win on Friday in order to qualify for the Super 4 stage.
Under captain Babar Azam, Pakistan succumbed to a five-wicket defeat against defending champions India in their first match of the tournament at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, while the Nizakat Khan-led Hong Kong produced a spirited fight but still fell short by 40 runs against the Men in Blue in Dubai on Wednesday.
PAK vs HK Dream11 prediction for Asia Cup 2022
Pakistan have won both their matches against Hong Kong in the Asia Cup history. While the Men in Green secured a dominant 173-run victory in Colombo in 2004, they repeated the performance by thrashing Hong Kong by 155 runs in Karachi in 2008.
Interestingly, both the matches were played in ODI format and this will be the first meeting between the two sides in T20I cricket.
The last time these two sides met, Pakistan beat Hong Kong by eight wickets in Dubai in 2018.
Overall, Pakistan have a 3-0 head-to-head lead over Hong Kong in international cricket.
Going by past head-to-head record and team combination, Pakistan will start as overwhelming favourites against Hong Kong to advance to the Super 4 of Asia Cup on Friday.
PAK vs HK Dream11 team tips for Asia Cup 2022
Top tip: Best batter
Hong Kong’s Babar Hayat could be a smart pick for this crucial Asia Cup 2022 encounter. The 30-year-old played an impressive knock of 41 runs off 35 balls against India on Wednesday. Hayat smashed three fours and two sixes in his innings and could be a decent fantasy pick at 9 credits.
Top tip: Best bowler
In the bowling department, Naseem Shah could be a great pick at just 8.5 credits. The 19-year-old right-arm pacer troubled the much-famed Indian batting line-up as he picked two wickets for 27 runs in his quota of four overs. Naseem Shah has already accrued 72 fantasy points and will look to add more to his tally against Hong Kong.
Top tip: Best all-rounder and wicket-keeper
As far as all-rounders are concerned, Pakistan’s Mohammad Nawaz could be a quality investment. The left-arm spinner was the wrecker-in-chief for Pakistan against India, claiming three wickets for 33 runs in his 3.4 overs. Having already accumulated 92 fantasy points, Nawaz will be a good fantasy pick at 8.5 credits.
For the wicket-keeper spot, Mohammad Rizwan of Pakistan will be the top fantasy recommendation over Hong Kong’s Scott McKechnie. Mohammad Rizwan was the highest run-scorer for Pakistan in their opening fixture as he scored 43 runs off 42 balls. Rizwan is also a safe wicket-keeper behind the stumps and could be a valuable addition to any fantasy team for 9.5 credits.
PAK vs HK playing XI (probable)
Pakistan playing XI (probable): Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Babar Azam (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani
Hong Kong playing XI (probable): Nizakat Khan (captain), Yasim Murtaza, Babar Hayat, Kinchit Shah (vice-captain), Aizaz Khan, Zeeshan Khan, Scott McKechnie (wicket-keeper), Haroon Arshad, Ehsan Khan, Ayush Shukla, Mohammad Ghazanfar
SportsAdda will bring you Pakistan vs Hong Kong Asia Cup 2022 live scores.
Interested in cricket betting? Click here to check out the list of top sites.
Featured photo: Surjeet Yadav / AFP
