Hong Kong qualify for Asia Cup 2022

Hong Kong defeated United Arab Emirates (UAE) by eight wickets in the Asia Cup qualifiers to book a berth in the 2022 Asia Cup. HK chased down the target of 148 in the 19th over at the Al Amerat Cricket Stadium in Muscat, Oman. HK are now placed in Group A alongside India and Pakistan.

Chundangapoyil Rizwan (49) and Zawar Farid (43) were the two main run-getters for the UAE while Ehsan Khan finished with impressive figures of 4 for 24 from four overs. Ayush Shukla too bagged a three-for. Nizakat Khan (39), Yasim Murtaza (58) and Babar Hayat (38 not out) then guided HK past the target. Incidentally, HK and the UAE had gone into the game in a must-win situation after Kuwait got the better of Singapore to take the top spot on the basis of NRR.

Hong Kong had also qualified for the previous edition of the Asia Cup in 2018 – also held in UAE. That team, under Anshuman Ruth, gave India a tough fight in the group stage before bowing out.

(Cricbuzz)