🏏T20 Asia Cup 2025: SL vs HK, 8th Match, Group B at Dubai🏏

🏏T20 Asia Cup 2025: Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong, 8th Match, Group B at Abu Dhabi on 15/09/2025 at 8:00 PM IST🏏

Uphill task for Hong Kong against dominant Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka have promised to field a "full-strength side", and that might mean Maheesh Theekshana getting in keeping in mind the conditions in Dubai

Prior to Sri Lanka's tournament opener against Bangladesh at the Asia Cup, Charith Asalanka had reminded people that his team was, indeed, the defending T20 Asia Cup champions. A fact not strictly inaccurate but one that might have raised a few eyebrows when put in context: Sri Lanka's form in major tournaments in the three years since that momentous victory has been less than stellar.

But for Asalanka, the psychological boost that it had provided was something he was sure would spur his side on. And so it proved to be against Bangladesh on Saturday, when whatever confidence or motivation was being derived was on total display - they dominated a contest that was expected to be much more closely fought, and quite frankly looked every bit the champions.

Consistency, however, has been Sri Lanka's Achilles' heel, and against Hong Kong on Monday, they have a chance to build up a head of steam ahead of their final group game against Afghanistan.

As for Hong Kong, two defeats already means they are out of the qualification reckoning, but they will no doubt want to bow out on a high note. And who better against the "defending champions"?

While this Sri Lankan side seems to be ironing out weaknesses, their middle order is still on the soft side. Kamil Mishara has added some much-needed aggression, but in general there is still a heavy reliance on the opening pair of Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka. Get them early and who knows what's possible.

Against both Afghanistan and Bangladesh, seamers Ayush Shukla and Ateeq Iqbal showed they can pick up wickets in the powerplay. Where the Hong Kong bowling struggled was in limiting scoring through the middle overs - a period Sri Lanka's batters have been known to struggle. That heavy collapse against Zimbabwe just three games ago has also served to highlight this Sri Lanka batting line-up's propensity to unravel, and with the pitch expected to be on the slower side, the stage is as set as can be for a low-scoring contest.

But to be clear, Sri Lanka are overwhelming favourites and, considering their clinical performance against Bangladesh, are also right on top of their game. It's an uphill task for Hong Kong whichever way you slice it, though not impossible.

Team news: Will Maheesh Theekshana return?

Hong Kong are likely to be unchanged, but with this being their final match of the tournament, it would be unsurprising to see some bench players get a game.

Hong Kong (probable): 1 Zeeshan Ali (wk), 2 Anshuman Rath, 3 Babar Hayat, 4 Nizakat Khan, 5 Kalhan Challu, 6 Kinchit Shah, 7 Yasim Murtaza (capt), 8 Aizaz Khan, 9 Ayush Shukla, 10 Ateeq Iqbal, 11 Ehsan Khan

Sri Lanka have stated that they will go with a full-strength side, which means there are unlikely to be any changes in the batting unit. On the bowling front, there could be a return for Maheesh Theekshana as the pitch is likely to aid spin.

Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Mendis (wk), 3 Kamil Mishara, 4 Kusal Perera, 5 Charith Asalanka (capt), 6 Kamindu Mendis, 7 Dasun Shanaka, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Dushmantha Chameera, 11 Nuwan Thushara

In the spotlight: Ehsan Khan and Wanindu Hasaranga

If Hong Kong are to pull off an upset, their best path will be to limit Sri Lanka's batting. While there are plenty of dangerous batters in the Sri Lanka line-up, their sometimes brittle middle order has no less than four left-hand batters - Kamil Mishara, Kusal Perera, Asalanka and Kamindu Mendis. With offspinner Ehsan Khan being Hong Kong's most prolific wicket-taker - 128 wickets in 94 innings at an economy rate of 6.29 - the match-ups are tailor-made.

Wanindu Hasaranga didn't look like he had missed a step on his return to the side against Bangladesh. His googly caused chaos as he ended with figures of 2 for 25, and it might have been more had heavy bails not been used with Jaker Ali surviving one that grazed his off stump. On a surface where spin has been at the forefront, it would take a special effort from Hong Kong to keep Hasaranga from adding to his 133 T20I wickets.

Pitch and conditions: Spin, what else?

The pitch in Dubai hasn't necessarily proved conducive to high scores over the past year, with spinners generally finding conditions to their liking. For example, of the 17 wickets to fall in the Oman vs Pakistan game, nine fell to spin, while pace-off deliveries were regularly employed by the seamers.

Stats and trivia

• This will be the first match between Sri Lanka and Hong Kong in any format in international cricket.
• The side batting first has won seven of the last ten T20Is played in Dubai.
• Sri Lanka last played in Dubai in 2022, in the final of the Asia Cup that they won.
• Nissanka's 902 runs are the most by a player from a Full-Member nation in T20Is since the start of 2024.

SL vs HK Probable Top Performers

Probable Best Batter: Pathum Nissanka

Pathum Nissanka could make a big difference with the bat in the upcoming fixture. In the last match against Bangladesh, he scored a 34-ball fifty. Nissanka is one of the most talented Sri Lankan batters, and he will look to get his team off to a quickfire start on Monday.

Probable Best Bowler: Ateeq Iqbal

Hong Kong's Ateeq Iqbal could be the best bowler in the next clash against Sri Lanka. The right-arm pacer has so far bagged three wickets in two games, including figures of 1/32 against Afghanistan and 2/14 against Bangladesh, respectively.

Today's Match Prediction: Sri Lanka to win the match

Disclaimer: The prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.

Quotes

"We don't want to take any chances. In this format, everybody is tough to beat. We will go with our full-strength side."

Sri Lanka batting coach Thilina Kandamby rules out the possibility testing their bench strength

Thanks for the tag and thread Raji

Thank you Raji for the thread and for tagging me.

Best wishes to both the teams, but we know that SL will win easily!