Bangladesh Cautious of Underestimating Hong Kong’s Challenge

Bangladesh captain Litton Das stated that the team is not overly concerned about maintaining a high run-rate as they get ready to face Hong Kong in their Asia Cup opener at Sheikh Abu Zayed Stadium on Thursday.

The discussion around run-rate became pertinent after Afghanistan’s 94-run victory over Hong Kong. This is an important factor to consider if three teams end up with the same points at the end of the group stage.

Litton cautioned against focusing too much on the run-rate, warning that such an approach could backfire. “If Hong Kong plays well, it will be challenging for us to secure a substantial win. We aim to give our full effort and win the match. Our primary goal is to secure victory,” Litton mentioned in a press meet before the tournament opener.

“While keeping the run-rate in mind is important, it should not detract from winning the match. If everything goes well, we might adjust our targets accordingly,” he added.

Litton emphasized not underestimating Hong Kong, considering Bangladesh’s previous upset defeat by them in the 2014 World Cup. “Our priority is to win our first match. As any captain would say, cricket is unpredictable; we need to play our best game as every opponent is challenging on their day,” said Litton.

He also dismissed concerns about the heat affecting their performance.

“We’ve played here before and are somewhat familiar with the conditions. The heat is the same for everyone, so we need to be prepared to give our best. We’ll limit practice to conserve energy for the match,” he added.

On the other hand, Hong Kong’s head coach, Kaushal Silva, is optimistic about his team’s chances of causing an upset against Bangladesh.

Silva acknowledged that his team did not perform to their full potential against Afghanistan but stressed the need to move on from that performance. “Playing under lights against a Test-playing nation was invaluable for us. Although it wasn’t our best day, we need to reset and focus on the game against Bangladesh,” Silva stated.

“It’s vital we learn and look for positives in the upcoming games. We still have a chance, and if we seize the opportunity, anything is possible,” he mentioned.

“Test nations are notably competitive, but we should concentrate on our game and do well in all areas. Bangladesh is a formidable team, and we must also play quality cricket to challenge them,” he concluded.