We will do our best to win – Shahid Afridi

Meanwhile, England have five T20Is in their current schedule including the upcoming three matches against Pakistan and the two games against South Africa in February.

Jason Roy (9) found Imran Khan at mid-on and Hales (8) edged to Shahid Afridi at mid-off to reward Tanvir and Ali (1-19) respectively for their early endeavours.

England, on the other hand, have played just four T20s since losing to Netherlands in ICC World T20 2014, winning three of them.

But Billings, in for Buttler, dominated a partnership of 65 in six overs with Morgan to race to his first global 50 in 24 balls and give England a total they could hope after all to defend.

Hong Kong captain Tanwir Afzal, who was born in Pakistan, started the innings with a maiden and Ahmed Shehzad’s miserable run continued when he made a golden duck, lbw to Haseeb Amjad from the first ball of the second over.

Having won the toss, Morgan elected for first use of the track and the Middlesex batsman sprung a surprise or two with his team selection.

“We have gone to India under worse situations”, said Afridi of Pakistan’s 1999 tour when extremists threatened them and dug up a pitch in New Delhi.

Hong Kong are one of the six qualifiers who will feature in the World Twenty20 from March 11-April 3 next year.

“Besides that, we are ranked No 2 so it’s an important series for us in many ways and we will do our best to win it”.

“We want to settle down before the World Twenty20”, said Afridi on Wednesday. “And they came back well (after Test series defeat) to win the ODIs”.

“It can be a matter of nice happiness if India comes to Pakistan on this troublesome time, help Pakistan and play there”, stated Afridi.

Replacing Root at number three, he had a maiden fifty in his sights until he began to struggle against Wahab’s changes of pace and was eventually bowled aiming a big hit at another slower ball. “We’ve only had two guys who were excluded from the one-day team added to the T20 team in James Vince and Stephen Parry, so there hasn’t had to be a great deal of transition”.