𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐟𝐠𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 ☺️#afgvhk #dpworldasiacup2025 #acc pic.twitter.com/zlPQMQh9rM
— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) September 9, 2025
AFG vs HKG Live: Afghanistan began their Asia Cup 2025 campaign in dominant fashion, beating Hong Kong by 94 runs. Sediqullah Atal starred with a composed unbeaten knock, while late fireworks from Nabi and Azmatullah powered them to 188. Hong Kong never recovered from a sloppy fielding effort – dropping 8 catches and their chase fizzled out quickly despite a few big hits from Babar Hayat. A comprehensive win for Afghanistan!
Atal and Omarzai did the damage with the bat and the bowlers finished the job as Afghanistan cruised to a huge win in Match 1️⃣ of the #DPWorldAsiaCup2025 #AFGvHK #ACC pic.twitter.com/bW7jQRDhiQ
---Advertisement---— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) September 9, 2025
Biggest Victory Margins in Men’s T20 Asia Cup (by runs)
| Margin | Winner | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 155 | Pakistan | Hong Kong | Sharjah | 2022 |
| 101 | India | Afghanistan | Dubai | 2022 |
| 94 | Afghanistan | Hong Kong | Abu Dhabi | 2025 |
| 71 | UAE | Oman | Mirpur | 2016 |
| 66 | Afghanistan | Hong Kong | Mirpur | 2016 |
Most Catches Dropped in a Men’s T20I (since 2020)
| Drops | Team 1 | Team 2 | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Australia | Scotland | Gros Islet | 2024 |
| 8 | West Indies | Australia | Kingston | 2025 |
| 8 | Afghanistan | Hong Kong | Abu Dhabi | 2025 |
For Afghanistan, this was a near-perfect start – a dominant win, game time for most bowlers, and a top-order that clicked. Yes, the fielding was a little rusty early on, but those are easy fixes.
For Hong Kong, it’s a match filled with lessons. Fielding lapses, poor running, and a lack of composure under pressure made the gulf between the teams look even wider. But there’s time to regroup, learn, and come back stronger.
Also Read: Asia Cup 2025 ‘A Big Challenge’ Arshdeep Singh, Warns Former India Coach
A solid workout for Afghanistan as they begin their Asia Cup 2025 campaign with a commanding win. Chasing 189, Hong Kong never really got going, losing wickets at regular intervals. Only Babar Hayat showed some fight with a few towering sixes, but it was far from enough. A dominant all-round performance from Afghanistan - just the kind of start they would've wanted!
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ehsan Khan, out Caught&Bowled!! Chipped back and it's a low catch in front of him. Fazalhaq Farooqi makes no mistake. Ehsan Khan c and b Fazalhaq Farooqi 6(11)
Gulbadin to Yasim Murtaza, out Lbw!! Late call from umpire Virender Sharma but the right one. A slower-ball leg-cutter and it's floated on a length, Yasim Murtaza swipes and misses, hit on the back thigh, which was bent Yasim Murtaza lbw b Gulbadin 16(26) [4s-1]
Noor Ahmad to Yasim Murtaza, FOUR, between extra cover and long-off
Rashid Khan to Aizaz Khan, out Caught by Nabi!! Good catch going back at long-on. It's tossed up full on middle, Aizaz Khan gets forward to slogsweep and skies it. Aizaz Khan c Nabi b Rashid Khan 6(10)
Gulbadin to Hayat, out Caught by Sediqullah Atal!! Hayat c Sediqullah Atal b Gulbadin 39(43) [6s-3]
Karim Janat to Hayat, SIX, that's unreal power from Hayat.
Karim Janat to Hayat, SIX, to deep mid-wicket
Noor Ahmad to Kinchit Shah, out Caught by Karim Janat!! Kinchit Shah c Karim Janat b Noor Ahmad 6(10)
Rashid Khan to Hayat, SIX, that's a big hit. Hayat comes down the track and gets to the pitch of the ball, lofts the tossed up delivery and it's well over long-on, meaty blow
The Force is Strong here ⚡️ #afgvhk #dpworldasiacup2025 #acc pic.twitter.com/el7DK3wFz0
— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) September 9, 2025
Azmatullah to Kalhan Challu, out Kalhan Challu Run Out!! Kalhan Challu run out (Azmatullah) 4(8)
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Hayat, out Nizakat Khan Run Out!! More woe for HKC. Full outside off, Hayat gets forward to drive hard and straight to mid-off, a direct-hit at the bowler's end, and it all seemed so normal when the stumps were found. Nizakat Khan run out (Rashid Khan) 0(0)
Azmatullah to Zeeshan Ali, out Caught by Nabi!! Easy catch at mid-on. Zeeshan Ali c Nabi b Azmatullah 5(6) [4s-1]
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Zeeshan Ali, FOUR, to long-off
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Anshuman Rath, out Caught by Gurbaz!! Golden duck for Anshuman Rath. He is not sure but Zeeshan Ali tells him he has got something on that. Anshuman Rath c Gurbaz b Fazalhaq Farooqi 0(1)
Hong Kong Openers Zeeshan Ali and Anshuman Rath are at the crease.
What a finish that was! 78 runs came in the last 5 overs, with Afghanistan turning on the heat in spectacular fashion. Sediqullah Atal, dropped multiple times - including in the first over made Hong Kong pay by carrying his bat and accelerating smartly after his fifty. The real spark came from Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah, who played the enforcer roles perfectly, stitching together impactful partnerships with Sediqullah. Hong Kong were abysmal in the field - 4 dropped catches, several misfields, and now they’re staring at a daunting chase. They’ll need something special to even get close. Back soon with their reply!
Ehsan Khan to Karim Janat, out Caught by Nizakat Khan at mid-on!! Karim Janat c Nizakat Khan b Ehsan Khan 2(3)
Ayush Shukla to Azmatullah, out Caught by Aizaz Khan!! Azmatullah c Aizaz Khan b Ayush Shukla 53(21) [4s-2 6s-5]
Ayush Shukla to Azmatullah, FOUR, fifty for Azmatullah. Maiden T20I fifty and it has come off 20 balls.
Ayush Shukla to Azmatullah, SIX, hat-trick of sixes. Azmatullah is on a roll.
Ayush Shukla to Azmatullah, SIX, this is even better.
Ayush Shukla to Azmatullah, SIX, runs coming at a rapid pace now.
Ehsan Khan to Azmatullah, SIX, Azmatullah pumps the next ball out of the park. This is fraction short and he is quick to latch on, rocks back and hammers the pull well over deep mid-wicket
Ateeq Iqbal to Sediqullah Atal, FOUR, to backward square leg
Ateeq Iqbal to Sediqullah Atal, SIX, back to back sixes. This one just clears the rope. Sediqullah has decided to get on with it. Length delivery angled across, Sediqullah moves to the off-side and heaves it towards cow corner
Ateeq Iqbal to Sediqullah Atal, SIX, to backward square leg
Ateeq Iqbal to Azmatullah, FOUR, another fumble. Fraction short and outside off, Azmatullah cracks it towards backward point and the fielder allows the ball to escape past his fingers.
Yasim Murtaza to Azmatullah, SIX, shot! It is so difficult to generate power when Murtaza is bowling so slow. 83.4ks flighted delivery.
Kinchit Shah to Sediqullah Atal, 2 runs, fifty for Sediqullah. He was dropped in the very first over and Sediqullah has made the most of it. He has held one end up and now is well-set to take Afghanistan to a competitive total. Flatter delivery around off,
Kinchit Shah to Sediqullah Atal, SIX, finally Sediqullah gets hold of one. The pressure was building on him and he needed a release shot, this was quicker and on the shorter side, Sediqullah rocks back and nails the pull over deep mid-wicket
KD Shah to Nabi, out Caught by Nizakat Khan!! Nabi c Nizakat Khan b KD Shah 33(26) [4s-3 6s-1]
Aizaz Khan to Nabi, FOUR, another boundary against Aizaz. Nabi giving the impetus to the innings in this middle phase. This was neatly played. He waited for the ball to arrive and steers it behind square, beats short third and the ball races away.
Aizaz Khan to Nabi, FOUR, Nabi is taking Aizaz Khan to the cleaners.
Aizaz Khan to Nabi, SIX, Nabi has decided to step on the accelerator. Follows the four with a maximum. Full and outside off, he backs away and gives himself space to free his hands.
Aizaz Khan to Nabi, FOUR, this time the sweeper has no chance. Full and outside off, width on offer and Nabi goes full-throttle on the drive.
Ayush Shukla to Sediqullah Atal, FOUR, shot! Fullish delivery and there was width on offer, Sediqullah extends his arms and creams the drive in front of square,
Ateeq Iqbal to Ibrahim Zadran, out Caught by Zeeshan Ali!! Two in two overs. This is a massive wicket for Hong Kong. Ibrahim Zadran c Zeeshan Ali b Ateeq Iqbal 1(4)
Ayush Shukla to Gurbaz, out Caught by Nizakat Khan!! Gurbaz c Nizakat Khan b Ayush Shukla 8(5) [6s-1]
Ayush Shukla to Gurbaz, SIX, first maximum of the tournament. Gurbaz's first ball against Shukla and he charges down, there is a bit of away swing but Gurbaz lofts with the movement.
Ateeq Iqbal to Sediqullah Atal, FOUR, in the air and safe. Hint of width on offer and Sediqullah goes reaching for it.
Ayush Shukla to Sediqullah Atal, FOUR, to fine leg
Ayush Shukla to Sediqullah Atal, FOUR, this is just rubbing salt into the wound
Ayush Shukla to Sediqullah Atal, no run, dropped! Oh no! It is the skipper and he has put down a regulation catch.
Ayush Shukla to Sediqullah Atal, FOUR, Sediqullah and Afghanistan are off the mark. Short and angled in from round the wicket, Sediqullah swivels around and pulls it behind square.
Hong Kong (Playing XI)
Zeeshan Ali(w), Babar Hayat, Anshuman Rath, Kalhan Challu, Nizakat Khan, Aizaz Khan, Kinchit Shah, Yasim Murtaza(c), Ayush Shukla, Ateeq Iqbal, Ehsan Khan
Afghanistan (Playing XI)
Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan(c), Noor Ahmad, AM Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi
We wanted to bowl first. I am happy to bowl. We worked hard to get here. We played good cricket in the qualifiers. As a captain I am looking forward to see how Kalhan Challu will do on the big stage.











