Beyond the scorecard: What the Asia Cup taught Hong Kong

What does the Asia Cup mean to a team like Hong Kong?

It's about gaining experience against Test-playing nations, brushing shoulders with stars like Rashid Khan, and understanding exactly where they stand in the bigger picture.

Fielding, though, became their undoing. Dropped catches seemed to be a recurring theme - starting against Afghanistan and culminating in a disappointing finish against Sri Lanka, where they put down as many as six chances. In total, Hong Kong shelled 11 catches in the tournament, a costly lapse that denied them the opportunity to pull off an upset against a full-member nation.

Yet, there was an explanation. According to senior batter Babar Hayat, Hong Kong were experiencing something new. "As the saying goes, 'Catches win matches'. In the very first over we dropped a catch and that batsman went on to score around 70 runs. It is tough for us as associate cricketers because we hardly ever play under lights. Playing under lights is always difficult. But you learn from your mistakes, move forward, and make better decisions in the game," Hayat said after the Afghanistan clash.

Despite their struggles on the field, Hong Kong's enthusiasm has been undeniable. Their training sessions reflected a side eager to learn, experiment, and push boundaries - qualities that earned them a place in the Asia Cup by beating Nepal in the qualifier. Skipper Yasim Murtaza sees that qualifier win as a defining moment.

"That game against Nepal (in Oman) was huge," said Murtaza in a chat with Cricbuzz. "Of course, qualifying for the Asia Cup is a big thing as it is one of the biggest tournaments in Asia, and for every team like us it is like a dream come true."

He highlighted the presence of young talent but stressed the need for more matches to accelerate their growth. "The young players in our team are very talented, and having them makes our lives easier. To be honest, Kalhan Challu is the real future of Hong Kong-China. Nasrulla Rana and Mohammad Wahed are also promising youngsters. Having players like them in my team makes my job easier," said Murtaza.

"I think we play very few matches in a year. If we could play more, we would learn more. When we face stronger opponents, we understand our strengths and weaknesses better. Hopefully, in the future, we will have the opportunity to play more games."

One of the biggest challenges, however, lies off the field. "It's not about cricket itself, but in Hong Kong-China we haven't got the land to prepare proper grounds, and that is a big challenge. Despite everything, Cricket Hong Kong-China has supported us," said Murtaza.

"We have the money but not the land to build a good ground. Hong Kong is a very small city and we don't have land for a big stadium. If land were available, Cricket Hong Kong would certainly build one."

To address those challenges and bring structure, Hong Kong roped in former Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter Kaushal Silva as head coach. Silva believes the key is to think differently.

"I think the biggest motivation was to take the Hong Kong team to the next level. With my experience playing school and domestic cricket in Sri Lanka, and my coaching experience in Australia, I felt I could combine the two and create a proper pathway. My aspiration in taking up this role is to help Hong Kong develop better cricketers," Silva said.

For him, the focus is on mindset and adaptability. "There's no one method when it comes to training. Resources are limited, but we can't control the uncontrollable. They need to start thinking differently and find new ways to improve their game. It's easy to point fingers and say, 'We don't have this or that,' but good teams, the Test-playing nations, always find a way to get better."

Silva was particularly impressed with the squad's commitment. "The fitness levels that our boys have shown is super impressive, given the time they put in. The environment in Hong Kong cricket is very different to a full member team. We need to figure out what really helps the team, and make the most of the limited pool of players we have. For me, seeing them put in the effort and show commitment is more important than chasing standards that might not suit our situation."

For Hong Kong, the Asia Cup was more than just about results. It was about lessons learned, exposure gained, and the belief that with persistence and the right support, they can continue to grow.