Asia Cup Updates: Afghanistan thump Hong Kong by 94 runs

 Tue, 09 September 2025
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23:57

Get off to a winning start as Omarzao stars

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HK 94-9 (20 ovs) vs Afg 188-6 Scorecard


Ateeq Iqbal is the last man in and he starts with a dot. 

Another dot later, Iqbal takes a single to third man. 

A dot to end the over as Afghanistan beat Hong Kong by 94 runs.



Farooqui is back in the attack and after a dot, Ehsan chips it back to the bowler who holds on to it on his follow through and he is out for 6 and HK lose their 9th wicket. 


Shukla is the new man in and he gets off the mark with a single to long on.

Ehsan ends the over with a single to deep backward square leg as 4 runs come off it. 



Naib continues and Murtaza starts with a dot.

He then takes a single to short cover.

A dot later, Naib bowls a wide down the leg side,

Naib strikes next ball as he he has Murtaza LBW. The umpire raises the finger. HK take the review and ultra edge shows no bat involved.

The ball tracking showed that it was pitching in line and hitting the leg stump and Murtaza has to walk back for 16.
23:44

Hong Kong need 100 runs in 2 overs

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HK 89-7 (18 ovs) vs Afg 188-6 Scorecard

Noor continues and Murtaza starts the over with a single.

Two dots later, Ehsan takes a single to backward point.

A wide later, widish ball and Murtaza slaps the ball through covers for a four.

Noor then appeals for LBW. No says the umpire. 7 runs come off it.


Ehsan is the new man in and he is starts with a sweep for a couple to fine leg.

Ehsan then takes a single wide of cover.

Murtaza then takes a single before Ehsan ends the over with a dot as a wicket and four runs come off it. 

Rashid continues and after a dot, Aizaz plays across the line and Nabi takes a good catch at long on as he is out for 6. Hong Kong lose 7th wicket. 


Noor continues and he starts with a wide.

Murtaza gets a life next ball as he hits the ball straight to the fielder.

A dot later, Murtaza and Aizaz take four singles as 5 runs come off it. 


Rashid continues and he gives 5 singles in the over.
23:32

HK six down


HK 68-6 (14 ovs) vs Afg 188-6 Scorecard


Janat continues and he reviews for an LBW. Afghanistan lose the review.

The batters take 5 runs in the over.


Aizaz Khan is the new man in and he plays out a dot as 3 runs and a wicket come off the over. 

Naib continues, and Murtaza and Hayat take three singles off the first four balls.

Naib strikes next ball and Hayat tries to go after the short ball only to be caught at mid-wicket and he is out for 39 off 43.
23:16

Hong Kong need to fire


HK 60-5 (12 ovs) vs Afg 188-6 Scorecard

Medium pacer Janat in the attack now and after a dot, Hayat pulls the ball over mid-wicket for a six!

A single later, an inside edge and Hayat scampers for a single and a direct hit but he is in by a mile.

Short ball next and Hayat smashes the ball over long on for a six!

He then takes a couple to long off as 16 come off the over.   



Gulbadin Naib in the attack now and after a dot, Hayat takes a single.

Murtaza then plays 4 dots as just a single comes off it.
23:06

Janat takes superb catch to dismiss Shah

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HK 43-4 (10 ovs) vs Afg 188-6 Scorecard

Murtaza is the new man in and that is a dot as 3 runs and a wicket come off it.

Noor continues and after two dots, Hayat takes a single as the leading edge goes wide off cover.

Shah then plays the next ball wide of long off for a couple.

Karim Janat then takes a superb one-handed sliding catch at deep backward square leg as Shah is out for 6 as he attempts to sweep. 

Hong Kong have lost have the side now. 


Rashid continues and Shah starts the over with a single.

Hayat then lofts the bowler for a six over long-on.

A dot later, the batter take three singles as 10 come off it.
22:57

Afghanistan bowlers dominate


HK 30-4 (8 ovs) vs Afg 188-6 Scorecard


Noor Ahmad comes into the attack and only two runs come off it.


Rashid Khan is in the attack now and Hayat starts the over with a couple.

A dot and single later, there is an appeal for LBW. They take the review and lose it. 

Shah and Hayat then take a single each off the next two balls. 5 come off the over. 




22:44

Omarzai strikes with a direct hit

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HK 23-4 (6 ovs) vs Afg 188-6 Scorecard


Ghazanfar continues and he gives just one run in the over. Hong Kong kept on a leash in the Powerplay overs.

Kinchit Shah is the new man in and Farooqui bowls a wide.

An appeal for LBW next and another two dots to end the over as 3 runs and a wicket come off it. 


Omarzai is back in the attack and Hayat is put down by Janat at third man.

Challu then gets a couple to the off side.

Omarzai then hit the stumps on his follow through and the direct hit has Challu short of his crease.  Third umpire called into service and the batter is run out for 4.
 
22:32

Afghanistan put down two catches


HK 19-3 (4 ovs) vs Afg 188-6 Scorecard


Leg Spinner Ghazanfar is in the attack now and Hayat starts the  over with a single to  long on. 

Challu and Hayat then take a single each off the next two balls before Challu plays two dots.

Challu then gets a leading edge, the ball flies up but he gets a life as it is put down as fielders get into a mix-up. 3 come in the over.


Kalhan Challu is the new man in.

Hayat takes a single to the  leg side.

A dot later, Challu is off the mark with a single before Hayat gets a single after an attempted run-out at the bowler's end. 4 runs and a wicket come off it.

Nizakat Khan is the new man in.

Farooqui continues and after a dot, a direct hit has Nizakat in trouble. 

The bail is dislodged as Rashid's direct hit from mid-off at the bowler's end has Nikazat just short of his crease and Hong Kong lose their 3rd wicket. He is out for a duck without facing a delivery.
22:19

Hong Kong lose 2 early wickets



HK 12-2 (2 ovs) vs Afg 188-6 Scorecard


Omarzai opens at the other end and Hayat plays two dots.

Hayat then plays the ball to third man for a single. 

Zeeshan then gets hit on the pads next ball. 

A dot later, Zeeshan is early on the shot and the leading edge is caught at mid-on and Hong Kong lose their 2nd wicket. Some late swing does it for Omarzai. HK lose wicket number 2.


Babar Hayat is the new man in and after a dot he is off  the mark with a single.

5 wides next as Gurbaz is beaten on the dive.

Zeeshan then hits the ball through mid-off for a four and a dot to end the over as 11 runs and a wicket come off it.

Zeeshan and Anshuman Rath come out to chase 189 while Farooqui opens the bowling for Afghanistan.

Zeeshan gets off the mark with a single as he plays the ball to deep backward square leg.

Farooqui strikes next ball as he gets the ball to shape away, Rath edges it and is caught behind. He is out for a golden duck. He doesn't take the review and he walks back.

21:55

Omarzai, Sediq hit 50s

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Afg 188-6 (20 ovs) vs HK| Scorecard

Afghanistan put on 188 for 6 against Hong Kong in the Asia Cup opener in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Azmatullah Omarzai smashed the quickest fifty for Afghanistan, his maiden T20I fifty, as he set up an 82-run stand with Sediq Atal who scored an anchored knock of 73 not out. 

Shukla and Shah took two wickets a piece for Hong Kong, who dropped a few dollies to allow Afghanistan crawl into the match and put on a massive total.



Rashid is the new man in and he is off the mark with three as he guides the yorker to third man as Murtaza cuts the boundary, keeps it down to 3.

Sediq ends the innings and the over with a single as Afghanistan put 188 for 6 on the board. Hong Kong need 189 for victory. 



Ehsan is back in the attack and Janat starts the over with a single to long off.

Sediq then takes a couple to sweeper cover.

Sediq then gets a single to long on.

A wide later, Janat tries to loft the ball over the boundary only to be caught at long off as he is out for 2. 


Karim Janat is the new man in and Shukla bowls a wide.

The slower yorker is played to the leg side as he gets off the mark with a single as 24 runs and a wicket comes off it.


Shukla back in the attack and he is welcomed with three consecutive sixes by Omarzai who is sending the ball all across the park.

Shukla now comes around the wicket, the full toss is guided over vacant slips for a four to bring up his maiden T20 50. 

Omarzai tries to go big again but only to be caught in the deep and he is out for a 21-ball 53 in a fantastic knock. Afghanistan lose their 5th wicket as Shukla gets his 2nd. 
21:36

Afghanistan bring up the 150

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Afg 155-4 (18 ovs) vs HK| Scorecard


Ehsan is back in the attack and Omarzai starts the over with a single to long off to bring up the 50-run stand off just 27 balls.

Sediq then takes a single to long on before Omarzai goes big and is dropped by long off and he gets a couple.

Short ball next and Omarzai pulls it over deep mid-wicket for a six!

Omarzai then gets an inside edge for a dot before he takes a single to long off to end the over as 11 come off it. 


Ateeq Iqbal is back in the attack and Omarzai latches on to the short ball and cuts it past backward point for a four.

A single later, a short ball is again pulled over deep square leg for a huge six! 

Short again and this time Sediq just lofts it over mid-wicket for another six! 

Sediq then plays the ball to sweeper cover for a single.

Wide ball next and the batters sneak in a single.

Another wide ball next.

Sediq then gets down and paddle sweeps the fuller ball for a four as 25 runs come in the over.

21:25

Hong Kong spinners test Afghan batters

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Afg 119-4 (16 ovs) vs HK| Scorecard


Murtaza continues and Omarzai starts the over with a single to long on.

Sediq then takes a single before Omarzai slog sweeps the slower wide ball over square leg for a six!

Omarzai then takes a single before Sediq plays a dot.

Sediq reverse sweeps the next ball and the fielder puts it down at short third man. Sediq gets a life again as 9 runs come off the over. 


Kinchit continues and the Afghan batters rotate the strike for 9 runs in the over as Sediq brings up his 50 off 41 balls -- his 3rd T20I half-ton. 


Omarzai is the new man in.

Murtaza continues and Sediq starts the over with a single.

Omarzai then gets off the mark with a single to point.

Sediq and Omarzai take a single each off the next two balls before Sediq chips it back to the bowler and lucky for him it goes over the bowler's head. The batter gets a single.

Omarzai ends the over with a single as 6 singles come in the over. 



Shah continues and after a dot. Sediq comes down the track but only manages to mistime it, the ball goes to long off fielder on the bounce and he gets a single.

Naib then takes a single to long off.

Short and quick next and Sediq rocks back and pulls it over deep mid-wicket for a six!

Sediq then takes a single to long off.

Slower ball through the air next, Naib tries to go big but is beaten by pace and miscues it straight to cover and he is out for 5 off 8. Kinchit Shah gets his 2nd wicket. 9 runs and a wicket come off it.
21:06

Afghanistan lose 3rd wicket


Afg 86-3 (12 ovs) vs HK| Scorecard


Hong Kong bowlers are putting a leash on the Afghans here. 



Murtaza continues and Sediq starts the over with a single to mid-wicket.

Two dots later, Nabi takes a single to square leg.

A dot later, Sediq takes a single to cover as just three come off it.


Gulbadin Naib is the new man in and he gets off the mark with a couple to long-on.

He then takes a single to mid-wicket before Sediq survives a direct hit as he returns for a couple. Saved by a whisker.

Sediq then plays the next ball to long on for a single.

Naib then plays a dot as a wicket and 6 runs come off it.



Off spinner Kinchit Shah in the attack now and he strikes first ball! 

Coming from around the wicket, he bowls it full and away from the batter, Nabi tries to hit it over the infield only to be caught at long-off and Aghanistan lose their third wicket.


20:54

Afghanistan begin to find runs after Powerplay overs


Afg 77-2 (10 ovs) vs HK| Scorecard


Left arm spinner Murtaza is in the attack now and Sediq starts the over with a single to deep point.

Tossed up next and Nabi cuts it to covers for a single.

Tossed up again and Sediq plays a dot.

Wide ball next.

Sediq then plays the ball to long on for a single, that brings up the 50-run partnership.

Nabi then takes a tight single as the keeper breaks the stumps but the replay shows that Sediq was in.

A dot to end the over as 5 come off it. 



Aizaz continues and the short and wide delivery is despatched over extra cover for a four.

Nabi then plays the ball to long off for a single.

Sediq then is beaten on the outside edge as the keeper comes up to the stumps and the ball seams away.

Sediq then drives the ball to extra cover for a single.

Nabi then guides the ball past short third man for a four. 

Wide ball and Nabi swings and misses. Wide called by the umpire.

Nabi plays it to gully next and tries to sneak a single but is sent back as the fielder takes a shy at the stumps. 11 come off the over.
20:43

Hammers 15 runs in the over

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Afg 61-2 (8 ovs) vs HK| Scorecard


Ehsam continues and Nabi starts the over with a couple as he cuts it to backward point, misfield in the deep allows him an extra run.

Nabi takes a single next ball.

Sediq then takes a single off a leg bye. 

Two dots later, Nabi ends the over with a single to sweeper cover as 5 come off it. 



Right arm medium pacer Aizaz Khan is in the attack now and Sediq starts the over with a single to long off.

A wide later, Nabi drives the ball on the up as he gets a single to extra cover.

Slower ball, some width next and Nabi throws his hands at it and hits it through extra cover for a four.

Nabi then makes room and smashes it over long off for a six!

Nabi then takes a single next ball.   

Sediq is beaten on the outside edge next ball as 15 come off it! 
20:35

Nabi, Sediq find batting a task


Afg 41-2 (6 ovs) vs HK| Scorecard

Off spinner Ehsan Khan is in the attack now and Nabi starts the over with a couple to mid-wicket. 

Nabi then gets an inside edge for a dot.

Another dot later, Nabi clips the ball to mid-wicket for a single.

Sediq then plays the ball to mid-off for a dot before he plays the ball to the leg side for a single as 4 come off the over. 
 


Shukla continues and after a dot, Sediq drives the ball past mid-off for a four.

Good length ball next and Sediq then takes a single to mid-on.

Nabi is off the mark with a single as he taps the ball to the off side.

Sediq then clips the ball to backward square leg for a couple. 

He then plays the ball to long off for a single before Nabi ends the over with a single past mid-on. 5 come off the over.
 


20:25

Gurbaz, Zadran back in the hut


Afg 26-2 (4 ovs) vs HK| Scorecard

Mohammad Nabi is the new man in, and he is beaten first ball.

Three dots next as Iqbal tests the batter. 

Another dot to end the over as that is a wicket-maiden! 

Spinner Ateeq  Iqbal continues and after a dot, he strikes.

A good length ball outside off stump, Zadran goes for the drive only to edge it to the keeper and he is out for 1.


Ibrahim Zadran is the new man in and he starts with a dot.

Zadran is off the mark with a single off a push to mid-wicket.
 
Again a fuller ball and Sediq can only play it to covers for a dot.

Fuller and swinging and Sediq plays it straight to cover to end the over with a dot as 7 runs and a wicket come off the over.


Shukla continues and Gurbaz comes down the track and lofts the ball over long off for a six! 

Slower ball next and Gurbaz comes out again and this time miscues the ball and is caught at mid-off. He is out for 8 and Afghanistan lose their first wicket.
20:13

Sediq gets early reprieves


Afg 19-0 (2 ovs) vs HK| Scorecard

Spinner Iqbal opens at the other end and Gurbaz is off the mark with a single as he pushes the ball to the leg side and scampers for a single.

Sediq then gets another life as he goes after the width ball and if flies just past mid-off and the ball goes for a four.

Sediq then gets a single to third man.

Gurbaz is then beaten by the pace next ball.
 
Gurbaz then gets a leading edge to third man and gets a single as 7 come off the over.

Sediq Atal and Rahmanullah Gurbaz will open the batting for Afghanisstan while right arm medium pacer Ayush Shukla will open the attack for Hong Kong. 

He comes around the wicket to Sediq, short, on the pads and the batter pulls it to backward square leg for a four.

Shukla then gets the next two balls to shape back in by bowling fuller. 

Sediq gets an early life as he edges the ball and he is put down in the slips.

The ball held up and Sediq gets an edge but gets lucky.

Next ball is angled back and the batter plays a check drive over min-on for a four.

Sediq then gets another four as a misfield at short fine sees the ball sneak to the boundary as 12 come off the opening over.



20:13

Sediq gets early reprieves


Afg 19-0 (2 ovs) vs HK| Scorecard

Spinner Iqbal opens at the other end and Gurbaz is off the mark with a single as he pushes the ball to the leg side and scampers for a single.

Sediq then gets another life as he goes after the width ball and if flies just past mid-off and the ball goes for a four.

Sediq then gets a single to third man.

Gurbaz is then beaten by the pace next ball.
 
Gurbaz then gets a leading edge to third man and gets a single as 7 come off the over.

Sediq Atal and Rahmanullah Gurbaz will open the batting for Afghanisstan while right arm medium pacer Ayush Shukla will open the attack for Hong Kong. 

He comes around the wicket to Sediq, short, on the pads and the batter pulls it to backward square leg for a four.

Shukla then gets the next two balls to shape back in by bowling fuller. 

Sediq gets an early life as he edges the ball and he is put down in the slips.

The ball held up and Sediq gets an edge but gets lucky.

Next ball is angled back and the batter plays a check drive over min-on for a four.

Sediq then gets another four as a misfield at short fine sees the ball sneak to the boundary as 12 come off the opening over.



20:12

Sediq gets early reprieves


Afg 19-0 (2 ovs) vs HK| Scorecard

Spinner Iqbal opens at the other end and Gurbaz is off the mark with a single as he pushes the ball to the leg side and scampers for a single.

Sediq then gets another life as he goes after the width ball and if flies just past mid-off and the ball goes for a four.

Sediq then gets a single to third man.

Gurbaz is then beaten by the pace next ball.
 
Gurbaz then gets a leading edge to third man and gets a single as 7 come off the over.

Sediq Atal and Rahmanullah Gurbaz will open the batting for Afghanisstan while right arm medium pacer Ayush Shukla will open the attack for Hong Kong. 

He comes around the wicket to Sediq, short, on the pads and the batter pulls it to backward square leg for a four.

Shukla then gets the next two balls to shape back in by bowling fuller. 

Sediq gets an early life as he edges the ball and he is put down in the slips.

The ball held up and Sediq gets an edge but gets lucky.

Next ball is angled back and the batter plays a check drive over min-on for a four.

Sediq then gets another four as a misfield at short fine sees the ball sneak to the boundary as 12 come off the opening over.



19:51

Rashid Khan's team favourites to win opening contest

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Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan has won the toss and elected to bat against Hong Kong in their Asia Cup campaign opener in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Afghanistan will be bolstered by the return of all-rounder Gulbadin Naib in the squad, Rashid said at the toss.

Hong Kong captain Yasim Murtaza said he is happy to bowl. 

Playing XIs: 

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan(c), Noor Ahmad, AM Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Hong Kong: Zeeshan Ali (wk), Babar Hayat, Anshuman Rath, Kalhan Challu, Nizakat Khan, Aizaz Khan, Kinchit Shah, Yasim Murtaza(c), Ayush Shukla, Ateeq Iqbal, Ehsan Khan



Welcome to updates from the Asia Cup 2025, starting in the UAE.

The Asia Cup 2025 kicks off tonight with Afghanistan taking on Hong Kong at the Sheikh Zayed International Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

The Afghans, semi-finalists at last year's T20 World Cup and runners-up in the recent tri-series against Pakistan and UAE, enter the tournament as one of the favourites. Their campaign may have ended in defeat to Pakistan in Sharjah, but the spirited run underlined their growing stature in Asian cricket.

Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Stadium promises a fair contest. The long boundaries and sluggish outfield will make clearing the ropes a challenge, while the surface, expected to aid spinners, could make batting tougher as the game wears on.

The recent tri-series offered a clear lesson: batting first is key. Runs on the board early, followed by disciplined bowling, may well prove to be the winning formula.

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: 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