Indian team will start their Asia Cup campaign with the game against minnows Hong Kong. Hong Kong has already lost their first game against Pakistan by big margin of 155 runs but they will be looking to put up a good performance against the Indians. India is one of the favorite’s team to win the title and if they do so then it will be their fifth Asia Cup win. The last win came thirteen years back in 1995. Indian team couldn’t have asked for an easier start to their Asia Cup clash title since they will face Hong Kong the minnows. India is placed in the same group with Pakistan, so if India wins today then they will easily go through to the next round in spite of their results in the game against Pakistan which will be played on 26th June at National Stadium Karachi. Indian team was one of the most dominating team in the last tournament played earlier this month but they lost the final against Pakistan and they don’t want to repeat the same mistakes they did in the final of Kitply Cup triangular series. Pitch Report The Pitch at National Stadium Karachi is always provide a superb wickets with full of runs. It will also provide some help for the spinners as the game progresses so any team winning the toss would like to bat first and will try to put runs on the board. Stats and trivia This is the first ODI between India and Hong Kong. They have never meet before in ODI. No batsman so far in ODI from Hong Kong manages to get pass 50 runs in ODI. The highest score from their batsman in ODI is 36 runs by Tabarak Dar. Player to Watch Nadeem Ahmed: He is playing first time at international level after making his debut in 2004 Asia Cup. He has performed exceptionally well in the first game of Asia cup against Pakistan by picking 4 crucial wickets. He will be dangerous bowler for the Indians. Indian batsman needs to treat him with care. Gautam Gambhir: In last one year he has done whatever he required to do to cement his place in ODI and if he continues to do what he has done in last 20 ODI's then it will be easier for India to achieve the victory in their first game of Asia Cup. Team News Irfan Pathan is already ruled out of first two ODI's of Asia cup due to side strain so we may see M.Gony making his debut in ODI if M.S.Dhoni wants to rest his fast bowler Ishant Sharma. Hong Kong have hardly any time to recover from the match against Pakistan. Zain Abbas, the middle-order batsman, had to retire hurt with cramps so his fitness will be monitored. Likely Playing XI for both the teams (Match will start from 15:30 PM India time) India: V.Sehwag, G.Gambhir, R.Sharma, Y.Singh, M.S.Dhoni (Captain), S.Raina, Y.Pathan, P.Kumar, P.Chawla, R.P.Singh, M.Gony. Hong Kong: Tabarak Dar (Captain), Skhawat Ali, Irfan Ahmed, KH Butt, Courtney Kruger, Zain Abbas, JJ Atkinson(WK), Munir Dar, Najeeb Amar, Afzaal Haider, Nadeem Ahmed. |
