KARACHI, June 23: The ninth edition of Asia Cup gets underway from Tuesday afternoon with hosts Pakistan looking for a winning start when they face minnows Hong Kong in a Group ‘B’ fixture here at the National Stadium.

Buoyed by their victory over arch-rivals India in the final of the triangular tournament in Bangladesh nine days ago, Shoaib Malik’s men are hoping to go all the away in the Asia Cup, which is being hosted for the first time by Pakistan in the silver jubilee year of the Asian Cricket Council, the game’s governing body in the region.

This event is staged at a critical time because there are still big question marks over the ICC Champions Trophy which Pakistan are due to host in September after several participating countries –notably defending champions Australia – have expressed fears over the much-debated security issue.

If the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) succeeds in staging the Asia Cup successfully, and more importantly without any untoward incident over the next two weeks, then such concerns about security will gradually subside.

The Asia Cup also offers Pakistan a chance to win the tournament only for the second time, having clinched the title in 2000 when they defeated Sri Lanka by 39 runs in the final at Dhaka’s Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Seasoned batsman Mohammad Yousuf and all-rounder Shahid Afridi are only members from that triumphant side in the present squad, while Malik also participated in that tournament but did not play in the final.

With due respects to Bangladesh and the two qualifiers from the ACC Trophy, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates, there are just three serious contenders for the title with defending champions Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan likely to dominate.

All three outfits are depleted by absence of key players for varied reasons. Having already lost the services of speedster Lasith Malinga, who has been injured since March, three-time champions Sri Lanka suffered another crippling blow hours before their squad left for Pakistan when all-rounder Farveez Maharoof reported with a side strain.

India, winners of Asia Cup on four previous occasions, will be without injured opening bowlers Zaheer Khan and Shanthakumaran Sreesanth injured while temperamental off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is serving a five-match suspension on disciplinary charges.But the biggest setback for the Indians is the loss of their batting genius and former captain Sachin Tendulkar, who is recuperating from a groin injury.

Pakistan, meanwhile, head into the Asia Cup without Mohammad Asif, who is due to appear before a PCB committee after a 19-day detention in Dubai on charges of allegedly possessing illegal substance in his wallet. Fiery fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar is currently serving an 18-month ban over discipline violations.

India, who are in the same pool as Pakistan, arrived in the city on Sunday night. They open their campaign against Hong Kong on Wednesday, which will be a virtual warm-up for the much-awaited clash against the hosts the next day.

Despite their defeat in the tri-series final, India are the form team this year after having clinched the now defunct triangular series trophy by beating Ricky Ponting’s Australians 2-0 in the best-of-three finals.

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have found themselves struggling in the past year with only eight victories in 22 One-day Internationals. But Mahela Jayawardene’s men cannot be written off because in familiar subcontinent conditions, they are always a big threat – as they were four years ago in their own backyard when beat India by 25 runs in the Asia Cup final.

In former skipper Sanath Jayasuriya Sri Lanka have a proven match-winner. Even though he is close to his 39th birthday Jayasuriya has remained as fit as ever and was instant hit in the recent Indian Premier League.

Sri Lanka also have the added luxury of calling upon the services of champions bowlers like Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas, both were members of the 1996 World Cup-winning side along with Jayasuriya.

Bangladesh need a drastic improvement in their overall performance to challenge the ‘big three’. Despite their wretched track record in 2008 (10 defeats in 13 ODIs), they should make the second phase of the tournament because they meet the UAE side before playing Sri Lanka in Group ‘A’.

Two teams each group will qualify for the second round that will start from Saturday (June 28) in Karachi. The final at the National Stadium is slated for July 6.

Preliminary round fixtures:

June 24: Bangladesh v UAE at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (Umpires: Simon Taufel and Ian Gould. TV umpire: Zameer Haider. Match referee: Mike Procter).

June 24: Pakistan v Hong Kong at National Stadium, Karachi (Umpires: Tony Hill and Brian Jerling. TV umpire: Amish Saheba. Match referee: Alan Hurst).

June 25: Sri Lanka v Bangladesh at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (Umpires: Taufel and Gould. TV umpire: Zameer Haider. Match referee: Procter).

June 25: India v Hong Kong at National Stadium, Karachi (Umpires: Hill and Jerling. TV umpire: Gamini Silva. Match referee: Hurst).

June 26: Sri Lanka v UAE at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (Umpires: Taufel and Gould. TV umpire: Saheba. Match referee: Procter).

June 26: Pakistan v India at National Stadium, Karachi (Umpires: Hill and Jerling. TV umpire: A.F.M. Akhtaruddin Shaheen. Match referee: Hurst).