Pak cricket team to face Hong Kong in its opening match of Asia Cup

LAHORE: Pakistan cricket team will launch its campaign in the Asia Cup on September 15 by taking on little known qualifier Hong Kong at United Arab Emirates.

Pakistan, twice winner of Asia Cup in year 2000 and 2012, will be playing arch-rivals India in its second match on Sept 19.

The 16-member Pakistani side, under the captaincy of Sarfraz Ahmad will be leaving tonight (Monday) for UAE fort taking part in the event. This year's Asia Cup will see the participation of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Hong Kong.

The super eight stage of the cup will be played from September 21-26 with the final on September 28.

Asia Cup was invented way back in 1984 in Sharjah and so far its thirteen editions have been played. India is the top most team which won the title six times in 1984, 1988,1990,1995,2010 and 2016 followed by Sri Lanka having won the cup five times in 1986,1997,2004,2008, 2014.

Pakistan's squad includes: Sarfraz Ahmed (Captain), Fakhar Zaman, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Amir, Shadab Khan, Imam ul Haq, Shan Masood, Babar Azam, Asif Ali, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Nawaz, Fahim Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Junaid Khan, Usman Shinwari and Shaheen Afridi.