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Hong Kong qualify for Asia Cup 2022

In reply, Murtaza and skipper Nizakat Khan powered Hong Kong to a quick start, sharing a stand of 85 runs in 10.5 overs, recording the side’s highest-ever T20I opening partnership…reports Asian Lite News

Hong Kong qualified for the main Asia Cup event after defeating the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by eight wickets at the Al Amerat Cricket Stadium in Muscat.

With Hong Kong ending the Qualifiers as the top-ranked side, they will now join India and Pakistan in Group A of the Asia Cup T20 event. Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are in Group B of the competition.

Their match against India will be on August 31 in Dubai, followed by the clash against Pakistan in Sharjah on September 2. Co-incidentally, Hong Kong had defeated UAE in the 2018 qualifiers to join India and Pakistan in the same group of the ODI Asia Cup event.

Ahead of the final match of the Asia Cup qualifiers, Hong Kong and UAE were put in a must-win situation after Kuwait defeated Singapore by six wickets and completed their chase of 105 in 7.5 overs to be on top of the table on the basis of Net Run Rate.

Electing to bowl first, off-spinner Ehsan Khan shined for Hong Kong with the ball, picking 4-24 in his four overs. He was well-supported by right-arm medium pacer Ayush Shukla, picked three for 30 in his three overs, while Aizaz Khan (2-8) and Yasim Murtaza (1-17) chipped in with vital contributions to bowl out UAE for 147 in 19.3 overs.

For the UAE, their captain CP Rizwan top-scored with 49 from 44 balls, including four fours, while all-rounder Zawar Farid smashed 41 off 27 balls after coming in at number seven, hitting two fours and three sixes, to give their bowling attack something to defend.

In reply, Murtaza and skipper Nizakat Khan powered Hong Kong to a quick start, sharing a stand of 85 runs in 10.5 overs, recording the side’s highest-ever T20I opening partnership. Nizakat fell for 39, including five fours, while Murtaza made 58 off 43 balls, smashing seven fours and a six.

Babar Hayat (38 not out) and Kinchit Shah (six not out) ensured Hong Kong crossed the line with six balls to spare to seal the last remaining spot for Asia Cup. Hong Kong, ranked 23rd in the ICC T20I rankings, will be making their first-ever Asia Cup T20I appearance and fourth overall after playing in 2004, 2008 and 2018 editions in ODI format.

Brief Scores: UAE 147 all out in 19.3 overs (CP Rizwan 49, Zawar Farid 41; Ehsan Khan 4-24, Ayush Shukla 3-30) lost to Hong Kong 149-2 in 19 overs (Yasim Murtaza 58, Nizakat Khan 39; Basil Hameed 1-31, Junaid Siddique 1-35) by eight wickets

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India News Sport Sports

India qualify for finals of the AFC Asian Cup 2023

Wong then sent his shot on the run across the face of goal before Matt Orr found just enough space to send in a low cross from the left that Sun Ming-him narrowly failed to meet…reports Asian Lite News

India celebrated their qualification for the finals of the AFC Asian Cup 2023 by handing Hong Kong a 4-0 defeat at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium here on Tuesday that ensured Igor Stimac’s side finished on top of the standings in Group D.

The win sees India complete the qualifiers with a perfect record after earlier wins over Afghanistan and Cambodia, while Hong Kong have also secured their place at next year’s finals after claiming one of the five best runners-up spots with their six-point haul.

A goal at either end of the first half put the Indians on their way to victory as Stimac’s side made sure of top spot in the group against a Hong Kong side that was celebrating qualification for the AFC Asian Cup for the first time since 1968.

Anwar Ali struck with less than a minute on the clock to give the home side the perfect start, smashing his shot into the roof of the net after the Hong Kong defence had failed to clear Udanta Singh Kumam’s cross following a short corner.

But Jorn Andersen’s side soon woke up and were creating the better of the chances as the half wore on. Sandesh Jhingan was forced to put the ball over his own bar after good work by Wong Wai while Sean Tse glanced his header from Ju Yingzhi’s corner wide of the target.

Wong then sent his shot on the run across the face of goal before Matt Orr found just enough space to send in a low cross from the left that Sun Ming-him narrowly failed to meet.

Yapp Hung-fai’s reflex save from Sahal Abdul Samad in the 27th minute underlined the threat the Indians continued to carry while Sun was unfortunate to only steer Ju’s free-kick into Gurpreet Singh’s hands and Orr headed over soon after with the goalkeeper stranded.

However, rather than claim the equaliser, Hong Kong slipped further behind in injury time. A moment of magic from Sunil Chhetri, who had been subdued to that point, was all it took, the 37-year-old pulling Akash Mishra’s free-kick out of the air with his right before stroking home calmly with his left.

Chhetri was denied a second six minutes after the restart when Yapp pushed his shot wide after a mistake by Fung Hing-wa had presented the ball to the striker deep into Hong Kong territory.

India claimed their third with five minutes remaining as substitute Glan Martins swept the ball in from 10 yards, hitting a low shot that Yapp was unable to prevent from crossing the line and Martins turned provider in injury time as Ishan Pandita turned in the fourth.

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India News Sport Sports

AIFF set to host Men’s Asian Cup 2023

“We understand that playing at home, and that too in Kolkata will be an added advantage to the Blue Tigers in our quest to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup China 2023.”…reports Asian Lite News

After successfully hosting the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Maharashtra, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is now set to host the Final Qualifying Round for next year’s men’s Asian Cup to be held in China.

India’s bid to host the qualifiers at Kolkata has been accepted by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the AIFF informed on Thursday.

“The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has accepted India’s bid to host the third round of the AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Qualifiers which are to be held June 8, 2022, onwards. The AIFF will be hosting the leg at the VYBK (Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan) in Kolkata,” the AIFF said in a report on its website.

“While 13 teams, including host China PR, have already qualified by virtue of their earlier performances in the second round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers, the final 11 places remain up for grabs for 24 teams in the decisive Group Stage to be held in June across all five AFC zones in six host nations – India, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia and Uzbekistan,” the AFC confirmed in a statement on its official website.

The AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Qualifiers Final Round will be held across three match days on June 8, 11 and 14, 2022, with the group winners, and the best 5 second-placed teams earning a ticket to the Asian Cup in China which is slated to kick-off on June 16, 2023. The draw for the final leg of the qualifiers is scheduled for February 24 in an online event from Malaysia.

“We had bid to host the third round Qualifiers of the AFC Asian Cup China 2023, and are grateful to the Asian Football Confederation for accepting our bid,” AIFF General Secretary Kushal was quoted as saying in the statement.

“We understand that playing at home, and that too in Kolkata will be an added advantage to the Blue Tigers in our quest to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup China 2023.”

India have participated in the AFC Asian Cup finals six times, finishing runners-up in 1964 when the event was won by hosts Israel.

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