Afghanistan began their Asia Cup 2025 campaign in Abu Dhabi with a stellar performance, defeating Hong Kong by 94 runs. With a strong squad announced for the tournament, fans are already debating India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad and key selections and how they stack up against teams like Afghanistan.
Riding on Azmatullah Omarzai’s record-breaking fifty and Sediqullah Atal’s unbeaten 73, Afghanistan posted a formidable 188/6 in 20 overs. In reply, Hong Kong faltered under pressure, managing only 94/9.
This victory not only gave Afghanistan a flying start in the tournament but also showcased their all-round dominance in both batting and bowling.
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sediqullah Atal (not out) | 73 | 52 | 8 | 2 | 140.38 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 53 | 21 | 4 | 5 | 252.38 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 25 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 138.88 |
| Others | 37 | – | – | – | – |
Extras: 8 | Total: 188/6 (20 overs)
Afghanistan’s batting firepower came alive at the right time, setting up a total of 188/6 in 20 overs. The big wins in the group stages could prove decisive in the Asia Cup 2025 schedule, especially with key fixtures lined up in Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai.
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babar Hayat | 39 | 43 | 3 | 2 | 90.69 |
| Yasim Murtaza | 16 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 61.53 |
| Others | 39 | – | – | – | – |
Extras: 0 | Total: 94/9 (20 overs)
Result: Afghanistan won by 94 runs
| Category | Afghanistan | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Total Runs | 188/6 | 94/9 |
| Highest Scorer | Atal – 73* | Babar – 39 |
| Fastest Fifty | Omarzai – 20 balls | None |
| Top Bowler | Gulbadin Naib – 2/8 | Aizaz Khan – 2/30 |
Afghanistan skipper praised the team’s comeback after early wickets:
“The middle-order stood up today. Omarzai and Atal showed great maturity, and our bowlers did the rest. A near-perfect start to our Asia Cup journey.”
Cricket experts on social media hailed Omarzai’s innings as a “game-changer”, highlighting how his explosive batting gave Afghanistan the edge.
Afghanistan will face tougher opponents in their upcoming Asia Cup group matches, but their strong start makes them one of the teams to watch.
Hong Kong will need to regroup, especially by improving their fielding and batting depth, if they want to stay competitive in the tournament.
The AFG vs HK clash in the Asia Cup 2025 underlined Afghanistan’s rising dominance in world cricket. From Omarzai’s record-breaking fifty to their bowling attack dismantling Hong Kong, it was a complete performance. For Hong Kong, the match was a harsh lesson, but also an opportunity to bounce back stronger.
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