It's a proud day for Hong Kong, who had to slug it out to qualify for Asia Cup's main draw.

Anshuman Rath opted to bat in the Dubai heat, but they lost Nizakat Khan early to a run out by Shadab Khan. Anshuman himself fell soon after in Faheem Ashraf's first over.

Shadab Khan started with a double-wicket maiden, picking the wickets of Babar Hayat and Ehsan Khan in one over to strangle Hong Kong's recovery.

A 53-run partnership for the sixth wicket ensued between Aizaz Khan and Kinchit Shah. Usman Khan dismissed Aizaz to open the floodgates in the 31st over.

Usman ended up picking three wickets in the same over, helping Pakistan raze through the tail.

Hasan Ali picked two wickets himself, that of Christopher Carter earlier in the day and then of Kinchit Shah's later.

Ehsan Nawaz's run out was how the last wicket fell, ending just like it started. Hong Kong ended on a paltry 116 in 37.1 overs.

Fakhar Zaman made 24 in Pakistan's 41-run opening stand and fell to Ehsan Khan after the dinner break.

Babar Azam's breezy 33 off 36 also saw him become the joint second fastest to 2000 ODI runs. He fell to Ehsan Khan in the 21st over.

Imam-ul-Haq rode on his luck, surviving DRS reviews, to steer Pakistan home to an easy win.