🏏T20 Asia Cup 2025- AFG vs HK 1st Match, Group B, Abu Dhabi🏏

🏏Afghanistan vs Hong Kong, 1st Match, Group B🏏

Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Welcome to 1st match of T20 Asia Cup between Afghanistan and Hong Kong from Group B at Abu Dhabi on 9th September 2025, i.e, today.

Asia Cup 2025 kicks off with Afghanistan taking on Hong Kong in the tournament opener at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi today.

While the fixture may not feature traditional heavyweights, it sets the tone for a competitive Group B that also includes Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

It's showtime as winless Hong Kong take on wounded Afghanistan to kick off Asia Cup.

Afghanistan will be particularly concerned by the form of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who endured a rough week in the recently-concluded tri-series.

Afghanistan enters the clash on the back of a disappointing loss to Pakistan in the trickeries final at Sharjah. Despite that setback, they remain one of the stronger contenders in the tournament, particularly in conditions that suit their spin-heavy attack.

Skipper Rashid Khan will spearhead the bowling unit, supported by Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmad, and Fazalhaq Farooqi, giving the side a balanced edge.

First of three big tasks for Hong Kong. Measured by eyeballs, this is the largest non-ICC international tournament cricket has to offer, even if an opener between Afghanistan and Hong Kong doesn't help make the case for that argument. But in a tight format, there is little bloat, and Hong Kong have the misfortune of being grouped with three legitimate contenders for the trophy.

They have played 16 T20Is this year, but nothing that comes close to the sharp uptick in quality they will need to reckon with in a group that also includes Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. They got to the UAE almost three weeks in advance, and booked themselves four warm-up games to get into tune ahead of the tournament: a pair against Oman, as well as two against local club sides. That they split the fixtures with each opposition is perhaps suggestive of their level, as well as the task that lies ahead of them against last year's T20 World Cup semi-finalists.

However, there may not be a better time for Hong Kong to play Rashid Khan's men. The fixture comes just two days after Afghanistan suffered a bruising defeat in the tri-series final against Pakistan, their batters looking totally ill-equipped against Pakistan's spinners on a turning track in Sharjah. The emotional toll of that defeat, as well as the quick turnaround, offers Hong Kong a potential opportunity to catch Afghanistan out in Abu Dhabi.

Realistically, though, that possibility is remote. Afghanistan are among the best sides in these conditions, and have a win over Pakistan as well as two against UAE from the tri-series under their belt. They boast a well-rounded bowling attack, as well as a batting lineup that combines destructiveness with a more classical poise. They demonstrated their strength in depth by rotating half the side against UAE in a dead rubber before the tri-series final, and still ended up winning. The shorter format and the timing may give Hong Kong the feeling they have a chance, but victory would still make this the greatest upset in Asia Cup history.

In the spotlight: Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Hong Kong openers

Afghanistan's highest profile players are invariably the bowlers, but Rahmanullah Gurbaz bucks that trend. However, Afghanistan's biggest batting superstar endured a rough week in the recent tri-series, scoring just 98 runs at under 110, 40 of which came in a dead rubber against UAE. The impact of his early dismissals has been somewhat mitigated by the remarkable consistency of Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal, but none have the explosiveness Gurbaz does when in full flow. Simply put, Afghanistan won't make a deep run without his impact, and a game against Hong Kong represents an ideal opportunity to blast his way back to form.

If Afghanistan's opener has hit a dry patch, that certainly can't be said for his Hong Kong counterparts Zeeshan Ali and Anshuman Rath. Far and away Hong Kong's two leading run-scorers, they have demonstrated themselves to be consistent as well as dynamic, with strike rates hovering in the mid 140s. Both boast T20I hundreds this year, while Rath's consistency, in particular, has made Hong Kong especially dependent on his runs. He has scored a further five half-centuries, and averages just under 50 for the year, the standout innings an unbeaten 59-ball 100 in a mauling of Singapore. Hong Kong need a fast start, and in that department at least, their openers have a track record of taking care of business.

Form Guide

Afghanistan: LWWWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)

Hong Kong: LWWLW

Team News:

Since reintroducing Noor Ahmad into their side, Afghanistan have favoured the extra spinner. Expect a similar team to the one that played Pakistan in the final.

Afghanistan (possible): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Ibrahim Zadran, 3 Sediqullah Atal, 4 Darwish Rasooli, 5 Karim Janat, 6 Azmatullah Omarzai, 7 Rashid Khan (capt), 8 Mohammad Nabi, 9 AM Ghazanfar, 10 Noor Ahmad, 11 Fazalhaq Farooqi

Hong Kong (possible): 1 Anshuman Rath, 2 Zeeshan Ali (wk), 3 Babar Hayat, 4 Nizakat Khan, 5 Matthew Coetzee, 6 Yasim Murtaza (capt), 7 Ehsan Khan, 8 Aizaz Khan, 9 Ateeq Iqbal, 10 Nasrulla Rana, 11 Ayush Shukla

Pitch and conditions:

Abu Dhabi is considered slightly less conducive to spin than Dubai, which may dull Afghanistan's edge marginally. It is expected to be warm and humid in the evening, as is routine in the UAE this time of year.

Stats and Trivia:

• In 21 years of their presence in the Asia Cup, Hong Kong have lost all 11 matches they have played.
• Afghanistan have a better T20I record in Abu Dhabi - the venue of the match - than at any other ground in the UAE, winning 11 and losing 5. However, they lost their only match against Hong Kong at this venue, in 2015.

Thank you, Soni, for the thread and for the tag.

The Asia Cup 2025 is set to commence on September 9, 2025, at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, with the opening Group B match featuring Afghanistan (AFG) and Hong Kong (HK).

Afghanistan come into the tournament following a tri-series final loss to Pakistan in the UAE. Despite the defeat, they displayed glimpses of brilliance, with match-winning contributions from their batters and game-changing spells from their bowlers. Led by Rashid Khan, the team will rely on key players such as Ibrahim Zadran, experienced campaigner Mohammad Nabi, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz to kick off their Asia Cup campaign on a high note.

On the other hand, Hong Kong last featured in competitive cricket during the Asia Pacific Cricket Championship Trophy 2025, where they finished as runners-up to Malaysia. The team will be eager to make their mark on the continental stage and deliver their best performance in the Asia Cup.

Cricket Match Predictions - PrePlay

Who will win the toss? — Hong Kong

Who will win the match? — Afghanistan

Top Batter (Runs Scored) — Sediqullah Atal (Afghanistan), Anshuman Rath (Hong Kong)

Top Bowler (Wickets Taken) — Fazalhaq Farooqi (Afghanistan), Ayush Shukla (Hong Kong)

Most Sixes — Sediqullah Atal (Afghanistan), Anshuman Rath (Hong Kong)

Player of the Match — Fazalhaq Farooqi (Afghanistan)

Team Scores Batting First — Afghanistan 160+, Hong Kong 150+

Venue Stats - Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi (2022-2025):

Average 1st Innings Score:

• 2023 - 147.33

• 2024 - 159.38

• 2025 - 173.10

Bowling Averages and Economy Rates:

• Fast Bowlers – Average – 26.07; Economy Rate – 8.32.

• Spin Bowlers – Average – 28.21; Economy Rate – 8.09.

Wickets Percentage based on Innings:

• Team Win Percentage when Batting First - 40.7%

• Team Win Percentage when Batting Second - 59.3%

Wickets Per Innings:

• First Innings – 6.51 wickets

• Second Innings – 5.30 wickets

Wickets per Phase:

• Powerplay (Overs 1–6): 1.76 wickets

• Middle Overs (Overs 7–15): 2.19 wickets

• Death Overs (Overs 16–20): 2.16 wickets

The pitches at Sheikh Zayed Stadium have only gotten better to bat on this year, with the average first innings score having risen to 173.1 this year, up from 159.4 and 147.3 in previous years.

There is a benefit to winning the toss and choosing to bowl first here, with almost 60% of the games won by the sides batting second, but the fast bowlers are the key to success in this ground. They average 26 runs per wicket and have an economy very close to that of the spin bowlers, who concede 28.2 runs per wicket taken.