Bangkok: The national men’s cricket squad started their Twenty20 (T20) event round robin campaign at the 2025 SEA Games in convincing style by defeating the Philippines at the TerdThai Cricket Ground here today. Fielding as the favoured team, Malaysia had no problems overcoming the team making its debut at the Games, scoring 201 runs in 20 overs, while the Philippines only managed to accumulate 87 runs.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the most outstanding player, Muhammad Haziq Aiman Mohd Hafiz, said team spirit was the key to their excellence in the opening match. “Today, my teammates were very supportive of me. They told me about the condition of the pitch, the situation of everything, and then all the seniors guided me on how to go further,” he said after the match.

Muhammad Haziq expressed his hopes that the players’ momentum continues so that Malaysia can secure the gold medal. Malaysia will next face Indonesia in the round robin league match tomorrow.