Advertisement
Advertisement
DUBAI: Hong Kong captain Yasim Murtaza expressed pride in his team’s spirited performance despite their narrow defeat to Sri Lanka in the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 on Monday.
Batting first in the must-win clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Hong Kong posted a competitive 149/4, powered by a composed 48 from opener Anshy Rath and an unbeaten half-century from veteran Nizakat Khan.
Murtaza then played a key role with the ball, striking twice in the middle overs to jolt Sri Lanka’s chase. His efforts briefly turned the tide as Sri Lanka stumbled from 119/2 to 127/6, raising hopes of an upset.
But Wanindu Hasaranga’s counterattack, coupled with opener Pathum Nissanka’s 68, proved decisive as Sri Lanka edged home with four wickets in hand.
Speaking after the match, Yasim Murtaza praised his batters for their resilience while admitting that missed opportunities in the field proved costly.
“I am really proud of the way the boys stood up today, especially in the batting. Nizakat and Anshy, their partnership was crucial,” he said.
“We wanted 150–160, so we got what we wanted. But we dropped a few catches, and that cost us the game.”
The Hong Kong skipper described their Asia Cup campaign as a “dream come true” and vowed his side would return stronger after reflecting on their shortcomings.
“The positive thing is that playing on the big stage is like a dream come true. We will think about a lot of things when we go back and work on that,” Murtaza added.
The defeat marked the end of Hong Kong’s Asia Cup journey, but their spirited showing against the defending champions left a lasting impression.
READ: There is no competition between India and Pakistan: Sourav Ganguly
