Asia Cup 2025: Can Oman, Hong Kong and UAE be giant slayers?

The Asia Cup 2025 group stage will feature associate nations of UAE, Oman and Hong Kong.

The Asia Cup 2025 kicks off on Tuesday, September 9 in what is only the 3rd edition being played in the T20 format. While all eyes will be on heavyweights India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the tournament presents an opportunity for the associate Asian nations to make their mark. Asia Cup 2025 will provide them with an opportunity to face off against world class teams and make their case. The 8-team tournament features Hong Kong, Oman and UAE in the group stage. Here we look at what to expect from the three Associate teams in the group stage.

UAE

It will mark the second time that UAE are featuring in the Asia Cup. The ‘host’ nation has been on the rise in recent years and qualified by winning the ACC Men’s Premier Cup 2024. UAE have prepared for the competition with a tr-series featuring Pakistan and Afghanistan. They failed to win any of their 4 matches, but their performances were not without promise.

Before the tri-series, they have defeated Bangladesh in a come from behind series win. In the tri-series, UAE had many a moment to seize the game, but failed to do so. They have shown flashes of brilliance, but have failed to sustain it for the duration of the entire game.

UAE will face India, Pakistan and Oman in the group stage. They could spring a surprise or two, but a lot will be dependent on captain Muhammed Waseem and Haider Ali. Asif Khan has demonstrated his power hitting abilities and could be one to watch out.

Hong Kong

It will be Hong Kong’s 5th Asia Cup appearance. However, the team is yet to have registered a win across formats and have been knocked out in the group stage in all their attempts. With Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in their group, it is fair to say the picture looks bleak at the moment.

However, Hong Kong will bank on their experience. In Babar Hayat, Ehsan Khan, Yasim Murtaza and Zeeshan Ali, they have a settled core and will look to be giant slayers. In conditions conducive to spin, Hong Kong could spring a surprise if their opponents have an off day.

Oman

The Asia Cup 2025 is likely to be a sharp learning curve for the inexperienced Oman side. It is their first ever Asia Cup appearance and the chance to play against India and Pakistan is a huge bonus. They played the T20 World Cup last year but much of the squad has changed since.

Captain Jatinder Singh will be key alongside left-arm spinner Shakeel Ahmed. Oman lost to USA and the Netherlands in the build up to the Asia Cup, but won the Gulf tri-series featuring Qatar and Bahrain. Like most associate teams, Oman have shown glimpses of promise and if they can convert it on the big stage it could be a very exciting Asia Cup 2025.