Afghanistan crushed Hong Kong by 94 runs in the opening match of the Asia Cup 2025 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. With the help of blazing half-century by Azmatullah Omarzai and a superb knock by Sediqullah Atal, Afghanistan posted 188/6 in 20 overs. In reply, Hong Kong lost early wickets and never recovered from the situation, managing only 94/9 in 20 overs. Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad, and Gulbadin Naib all bowled well. Only two Hong Kong batsmen crossed the 10-run mark, with Babar Hayat (39 runs off 43 balls) being the highest scorer.
Afghanistan Won the Toss and Opted to Bat
Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bat first. Sediqullah Atal and Rahmatullah Gurbaz opened the innings. Ayush Shukla began the bowling for Hong Kong. Sediqullah started aggressively with a boundary and ended the first over with two consecutive boundaries. However, Yasim Murtaza dropped Sediqullah on the fourth delivery of the over.
Early Wickets and Steady Partnership
In the second over, Gurbaz opened his account with a single. In the third over, Gurbaz hit a six off Ayush Shukla but lost his wicket on the next ball. He scored 8 runs from 5 balls. Ibrahim Zardan came next and started with a single. After three overs, Afghanistan stood at 26/1.
Ateeq Iqbal struck in the fourth over by dismissing Ibrahim Zardan on the second ball. Zardan managed just 1 run from 4 balls. Iqbal bowled a maiden over and took a wicket. Mohammad Nabi joined the crease at number four.
Building the Partnership
Sediqullah scored another boundary in the fifth over. Meanwhile, Sediqullah and Nabi built a steady partnership, rotating strike with singles and doubles. Zeeshan Ali dropped Nabi on the second ball of the fifth over. By the end of the sixth over, Afghanistan reached 41/2. Sediqullah was on 26 runs from 17 balls, while Nabi stood at 5 from 10 balls.
Middle Overs – Momentum Shift
In the seventh over, Mohammad Nabi attacked Aizaz Khan with a boundary and a six. Ehsan Khan slowed the scoring, but Aizaz continued to leak boundaries. In the ninth over, Nabi again targeted Aizaz, scoring two more boundaries.
During the tenth over, Yasim Murtaza bowled, and Sediqullah took a single on the fourth delivery, completing a 50-run partnership with Nabi. Only 5 runs came from the over. After 10 overs, Afghanistan was at 77/2, with Sediqullah on 30 runs and Nabi on 33.
Key Wickets Fall
Kinchit Shah dismissed Mohammad Nabi on the first ball of his spell. Nabi scored 33 from 26 balls. Gulbadin Naib came to the crease next. On the fourth ball of the 11th over, Sediqullah narrowly escaped a direct hit. The 11th over yielded just 6 runs and a wicket.
Yasim Murtaza bowled the 12th over tightly, giving away only 3 runs. In the 13th over, Sediqullah hit a six off Kinchit Shah but lost Gulbadin Naib on the final ball. Naib had scored 5 from 8 balls. After 13 overs, Afghanistan stood at 95/4.
Half-Century Partnership and Aggressive Batting
Azmatullah Omarzai joined Sediqullah. On the fifth ball of the 14th over, Murtaza dropped Sediqullah again. Sediqullah then completed the 100-run milestone with a single. In the 15th over, Sediqullah hit a double on the last ball to reach his half-century in 41 balls. Afghanistan moved to 110/4.
Omarzai attacked in the 16th over, hitting a six on the third ball. Ehsan Khan dropped Sediqullah on the last delivery of the over. In the 17th over, Omarzai hit a boundary off Ateeq Iqbal, followed by Sediqullah hitting back-to-back sixes and a boundary. Afghanistan scored 25 runs that over, reaching 144/4.
Strong Finish to Innings
During the 18th over, Omarzai and Sediqullah reached a 50-run partnership. Omarzai was dropped but struck a six immediately after. Afghanistan crossed the 150-run mark, scoring 11 runs in the over.
In the 19th over, Omarzai hit three consecutive sixes and a boundary to reach his half-century in 20 balls. However, Ayush Shukla dismissed him on the fifth ball. Omarzai scored 53 from 21 balls.
Karim Janat joined the batting but only added 24 runs in the 19th over. In the final over, Ehsan Khan dismissed Janat, who scored 2 from 3 balls. Rashid Khan came in and scored three runs, while Sediqullah added a single.
Afghanistan ended their innings at 118/6 in 20 overs. Sediqullah remained unbeaten on 73 from 52 balls, and Rashid Khan was 3 not out.
Hong Kong’s Run Chase Begins
Zeeshan Ali and Anshuman Rath opened the innings for Hong Kong. Fazalhaq Farooqi struck early by dismissing Rath on the second ball without scoring. Babar Hayat joined Zeeshan.
Zeeshan hit a boundary in the first over, giving Hong Kong 11 runs. Omarzai bowled the second over and dismissed Zeeshan on the last ball for 5 runs from 6 balls. After two overs, Hong Kong was 12/2.
Middle Overs Collapse
In the third over, Farooqi caused a run out, dismissing Nizakat Khan without facing a ball. Kalhan Challu came next. After three overs, Hong Kong stood at 16/3. Omarzai sent Challu back for 4 runs from 8 balls via a direct hit.
Kinchit Shah joined the innings. Allah Ghazanfar bowled the sixth over, conceding only 1 run. Hong Kong dropped to 23/4. Babar Hayat was on 8 from 18 balls, while Shah was yet to score.
Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad bowled tightly in the seventh and eighth overs. Babar Hayat hit a six off Rashid in the ninth over. Karim Janat took a superb catch, and Noor Ahmad dismissed Kinchit Shah, who scored 6 from 10 balls.
After ten overs, Hong Kong was 43/5, with Babar Hayat on 22 runs and Yasim Murtaza yet to open his account.
Late Overs Struggle
Gulbadin Naib bowled the 11th over carefully. Then Babar Hayat attacked Karim Janat, hitting two sixes and taking Hong Kong to their 50-run mark.
In the 13th over, Naib dismissed Babar Hayat for 39 runs from 43 balls. Aizaz Khan came next. Hong Kong stood at 63/6 after 13 overs. Karim Janat and Rashid Khan bowled defensively in the 14th and 15th overs. After 15 overs, Hong Kong was 73/6.
Final Collapse
Rashid Khan dismissed Aizaz Khan in the 17th over. Aizaz had scored 6 from 10 balls. Ehsan Khan came next. Only 4 runs and a wicket came from the 17th over. Hong Kong was 82/7.
Gulbadin Naib dismissed Yasim Murtaza in the 19th over. Murtaza scored 16 from 26 balls. Ayush Shukla came in next. Hong Kong was at 93/8 after 19 overs. Fazalhaq Farooqi bowled the final over. He dismissed Ehsan Khan on the second ball. Ehsan had scored 6 from 11 balls. Ateeq Iqbal joined as the last man. Only 1 run came from the final over.
Hong Kong finished at 94/9 in 20 overs. Afghanistan won the match by a margin of 94 runs.