KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia received a favourable draw for the Asian Games men's T20 cricket event in Hangzhou next month.
The national team, ranked eighth in Asia, are in Group D with ninth-ranked Bahrain and Maldives.
Malaysia will take on Bahrain on Sept 28 and Maldives two days later.
Team manager Amy Mokhzani said his players are feeling confident ahead of the mission after winning the T20 World Cup Asia B qualifier at Bayuemas Oval in Klang last month.
"We (Malaysia) have a good chance of winning both group matches at the Asian Games and qualifying for the quarter-finals," said Amy.
"Last year, we won two of the three encounters against Bahrain and defeated Maldives twice."
Last year, Malaysia overcame Maldives twice in a T20 tournament, winning by 94 runs and eight wickets.
Malaysia defeated Bahrain by 53 runs and seven wickets in both encounters last year.
"Only the group champions will qualify for the last eight. The organisers will do a fresh draw for the quarter-finals," said Amy.
Asian No. 1 India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will only start their campaign in the quarter-finals.
The national will play Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea in a Tri-nation at Bayumas Oval from Sept 19-24 in preparation for the Asian Games.
Men's Asian Games groupings
Group A: Afghanistan, Mongolia; Group B: Nepal, Japan, Cambodia;
Group C: Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand;Group D: Malaysia, Bahrain, Maldives.