Asia Cup: Afghanistan win toss, opt to bat against Hong Kong in tournament opener

Abu Dhabi [UAE], September 9 (ANI): Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan won the flip and opted to bat against Hong Kong successful the Asia Cup run opener connected Tuesday astatine Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

Hong Kong has taken dependable strides and gained momentum with tiny wins. Nizakat Khan and Babar Hayat person spearheaded their batting attack, portion Kinchit Shah has chipped successful with invaluable runs. In the bowling department, Ehsan Khan's off-spin remains their premier weapon.

Afghanistan precocious featured successful the T20I Tri Series against Pakistan and the UAE. They stormed into the last but got outplayed by Pakistan and surrendered the title. Rashid remains Afghanistan's trump card, and Sediqullah Atal's runs with the bat stay an ominous motion for them. However, Rahmanullah Gurbaz's soundless outings astatine the apical stay a monolithic interest for them.

After winning the toss, Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan said, 'We would similar to bat first. It looks similar a bully wicket to enactment runs connected the board; a bully full connected the committee volition assistance the bowlers. In T20, it does not substance if you triumph the flip oregon not, but you person to springiness yourself the champion accidental to prime wickets successful the mediate period. It is already down us, we are good focused connected the crippled today, adjacent if we had won the final, we would person focused connected the crippled contiguous and however to win. Just 1 alteration - Gulbadin is back.'

Hong Kong skipper Yasim Murtaza was satisfied with the effect of the flip and said, 'We wanted to vessel first. I americium blessed to bowl. We worked hard to get here. We played bully cricket successful the qualifiers. As a captain, I americium looking guardant to seeing however Kalhan Challu volition bash connected the large stage.'

Afghanistan (Playing XI): Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan(c), Noor Ahmad, AM Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Hong Kong (Playing XI): Zeeshan Ali(w), Babar Hayat, Anshuman Rath, Kalhan Challu, Nizakat Khan, Aizaz Khan, Kinchit Shah, Yasim Murtaza(c), Ayush Shukla, Ateeq Iqbal, Ehsan Khan. (ANI)