Zimbabwe vs Hong Kong is the first match of the ICC World T20 2016, as both teams look to get off to the best possible start in their bid for qualification to the Super 10s.
The VCA Stadium in Nagpur will play host to the first match of the T20 World Cup, and while it might not be as grand and high profile as the opening match of the Super 10 phase – India vs New Zealand – there should be plenty of excitement in there to keep everyone interested.
[Watch the highlights of Zimbabwe vs Hong Kong HERE]
Zimbabwe go into this Group B match of the qualifiers as the favourites, not only to beat Hong Kong, but also to top the group and as a result make it to the next, more important, phase of the World T20.
It won't be easy, though, with Afghanistan and Scotland the other teams in the group. Zimbabwe failed to make it to the main round of the World T20 two years ago, and they will be determined to put that right in this edition of the World Cup in India.
"We have guys who are very experienced and they have seen enough at this level," Zimbabwe captain Hamilton Masakadza was quoted as saying by ICC's official website. "We need to treat every game like it's our last chance of making it to the main draw.
"We failed last time, and we don't want to repeat that."
However, keen to hand a big blow to Zimbabwe will be Hong Kong, in this first T20I match between the two teams – they have only played each other in a practice match previously, which was won by the Asian side. Hong Kong have already beaten Afghanistan and Scotland in the past in other tournaments and if they manage to pick up the scalp of Zimbabwe, it will go a long way in taking them to the Super 10 stage of the ICC World T20.
"We have studied them and we know everything that they are capable of," Hong Kong captain Tanwir Afzal said. "We have done well in this format and we have done well to come this far. The boys only want to put up a good show and go as far as possible."
Where to Watch Live
The opening match of the ICC World T20 2016 is scheduled for a 3 p.m. IST (9.30 a.m. GMT, 4.30 a.m. ET) start. Live TV coverage of the Zimbabwe vs Hong Kong match in India and the rest of the subcontinent will be on Star Sports 1, Star Sports HD1, Star Sports 2 and Star Sports HD2. Viewers can also watch all the WT20 action by live streaming online on Starsports online and Hotstar.
Audience in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa can watch the World T20 action live on SuperSport 2, with the online live stream option SuperSport Live Video.
Sky Sports 2 will broadcast the match live in the UK and Ireland, while the action can also be live streamed on Watch Sky Sports and Sky Go.
Willow TV and Willow TV Online are the places to be to watch the WT20 game live in the US and Canada.
Fox Sports 3 will show Zimbabwe vs Hong Kong live in Australia, while the live streaming option is on Foxtel. Sky Sport and Sky Go NZ are the options to watch the match live in New Zealand.
