After several delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic and changes in venue from the UAE to Pakistan to Sri Lanka and back to the UAE again, the men’s Asia Cup finally begins next weekend.

Before then though there is the small matter of the final stage of qualification which is being held in Oman over the next few days.

The four participating teams came through two sub-regional qualifiers in early 2020. Western region finalists UAE and Kuwait are in action tomorrow but today it was the turn of Singapore and Hong Kong who came through a Covid impacted Eastern region qualifier in Thailand in March 2020, which was also the last time, to date, that Tim David played for Singapore.

With David having since become hot property in T20 leagues around the world he is unavailable for Singapore in this tournament, being presently engaged with the Southern Brave in The Hundred.

Singapore captain Amjad Mahboob won the toss and chose to bowl first, and no doubt felt his decision was vindicated when he had Nizakat Khan trapped lbw for a three ball duck before bowling Babar Hayat in the third over.

Yasim Murtaza and Kinchit Shah were able to rebuild the Hong Kong innings with a third wicket partnership of 65 before Shah was dismissed for 34. Murtaza was out soon afterwards for 26, whilst a 14-ball knock of 27 from Haroon Arshad gave their innings some late impetus as they made 148-9 from their 20 overs.

Knocks of 29 by Aritra Dutta and 31 by Janak Prakash were able to get Singapore close, but when they needed 15 from the last over they could only manage six and, at 140-7, they lost by 8 runs.

Singapore’s next match is against the UAE on Monday, whilst Hong Kong will wait until Tuesday when they take on Kuwait.