Six-time champions Indian cricket team will kick-start their Asia Cup 2018 campaign against minnows Hong Kong on Tuesday, 18 September 2018, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
On Tuesday, a formidable India will be aiming to beat Hong Kong before getting battle-ready for their much-anticipated clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on Wednesday.
Hong Kong have already lost their first match to Pakistan.
India’s match against Hong Kong will be an ‘appetiser’ before cricket junkies are treated to the lavish India-Pakistan feast.
Even without regular skipper Virat Kohli, the Indian side, led by Rohit Sharma, is an intimidating one in the limited overs format.
Though Rohit and his colleagues won’t want to take Hong Kong lightly, the match will serve as a glorified dress rehearsal before they take on an in-form Pakistan the very next day.
In the searing Dubai heat, where the mercury has risen up to 43 degree Celsius, the primary aim for the Men in Blue would be to get their combination right before the big game.
Ahead of the India vs Hong Kong clash, here is everything you need to know:
Date: September 18, 2018 (Tuesday).
Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.
Time: The match begins at 5:00 PM (IST). The toss will take place at 4:30 PM (IST).
Live Broadcast: Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 1 HD in English commentary and Star Sports 3 and Star Sports 3 HD in Hindi Commentary.
Live Streaming: Hotstar.
Squads of Asia Cup 2018 India vs Hong Kong:
Teams:
India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Ambati Rayudu, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Shardul Thakur, Dinesh Karthik, Khaleel Ahmed.
Hong Kong: Anshuman Rath (captain), Aizaz Khan, Babar Hayat, Cameron McAulson, Christopher Carter, Ehsan Khan, Ehsan Nawaz, Arshad Mohammed, Kinchit Shah, Nadeem Ahmed, Raag Kapur, Scott McKehnie, Tanvir Ahmed, Tanvir Afzal, Waqas Khan, Aftab Hussain.
-With PTI inputs.