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Asia Cup 2025 kicks off on September 9 with an intriguing clash between Afghanistan and Hong Kong at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Both teams will be eager to start their campaigns on a high note in this T20 opener under lights.
Afghanistan arrive as one of the tournament’s powerhouse sides, led by captain Rashid Khan. Their lineup boasts explosive top-order batters like Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, backed by seasoned all-rounders Mohammad Nabi and Gulbadin Naib. The spin pair of Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad provides the wrist-spin threat, while the pace attack led by Naveen-ul-Haq and Fazalhaq Farooqi offers genuine variety.
Hong Kong, under the leadership of Yasim Murtaza, enter as the tournament’s underdogs but one capable of springing surprises. Experienced campaigners Babar Hayat and Anshuman Rath anchor their batting, supported by versatile players such as Martin Coetzee and Niazakat Khan. Their bowling attack features the seam of Ehsan Khan and Mohammad Aizaz Khan alongside the spin of Nasrulla Rana and Ali Hassan.
The two sides have met five times in T20 internationals, with Afghanistan edging the head-to-head 3–2. Hong Kong’s victories have come through disciplined bowling performances and measured batting displays, while Afghanistan’s wins have typically been powered by their superior spin unit and explosive middle order.
With both teams boasting match-winners in all departments, this opener promises competitive action. Expect Afghanistan to look to control the game with their spin-heavy attack, while Hong Kong will aim to upset the odds with disciplined bowling and key contributions from their experienced batters. A thrilling start to Asia Cup 2025 awaits.
AFG vs HK, Asia Cup 2025: Match Details:
- Date and Time: September 09, 8:00 pm IST / 02:30 pm GMT / 06:30 pm local
- Venue: Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
AFG vs HK Head-to-Head Record in T20Is:
Matches Played: 05 | Afghanistan won: 03 | Hong Kong won: 02 | No results: 0
Sheikh Zayed Stadium Pitch Report:
The Sheikh Zayed Stadium surface in Abu Dhabi traditionally offers a true, even bounce that rewards stroke-makers from the outset, making it a batting-friendly venue in the T20 format. The hard, dry outfield ensures the ball races to the boundary, while the pitch’s slightly tacky nature as the game progresses brings spinners into play during the middle overs. Fast bowlers can extract some seam movement early on, but their margin for error is slim, as any width is quickly punished. In evening fixtures, dew can settle under lights, making it tougher for bowlers to grip and turn the ball. Overall, teams winning the toss are likely to bat first and post a high total, then rely on slowing the run-rate with spin and pace variations under fading conditions.
Also READ: 5 lowest totals for Afghanistan in T20Is ft. 66 all out vs Pakistan
Squads:
Afghanistan: Rashid Khan (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mohammad Ishaq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Allah Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Farid Malik, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Hong Kong, China: Yasim Murtaza (c), Babar Hayat, Zeeshan Ali, Niazakat Khan Mohammad, Nasrulla Rana, Martin Coetzee, Anshuman Rath, Kalhan Marc Challu, Ayush Shukla, Mohammad Aizaz Khan, Ateeq ul Rehman Iqbal, Kinchit Shah, Ali Hassan, Shahid Wasif, Ghazanfar Mohammad, Mohammad Waheed, Ehsan Khan
AFG vs HK, Today’s Match Prediction:
Case 1:
- Hong Kong wins the toss and bat first
- HK powerplay score: 45-50
- HK overall score: 150-160
Case 2:
- Afghanistan wins the toss and bat first
- AFG powerplay score: 50-55
- AFG overall score: 170-180
Match result: Team batting first to win the game.
Also READ: Murali Kartik picks two ‘X factors’ of Team India in the Asia Cup 2025
