Asia Cup 2025: Afghanistan Crush Hong Kong by 94 Runs in Abu Dhabi Opener

Azmatullah Omarzai smashes Afghanistan’s fastest T20I half-century, while Sediqullah Atal’s unbeaten 73 and a disciplined bowling attack seal a commanding win.

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Abu Dhabi [UAE], September 10: Afghanistan kick-started their Asia Cup 2025 campaign in style, registering a thumping 94-run victory over Hong Kong in their Group B clash at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Tuesday.

The night belonged to Azmatullah Omarzai, who rewrote the record books by smashing the fastest T20I half-century for Afghanistan in just 20 balls. Alongside him, opener Sediqullah Atal anchored the innings with a classy unbeaten 73, ensuring Afghanistan piled up a formidable total of 188/6.

Omarzai’s Fireworks Steal the Show

Afghanistan’s innings looked wobbly at 110/4 with just five overs left, before Omarzai walked in and turned the tide single-handedly. His fearless stroke play—five sixes and two boundaries—left Hong Kong’s bowlers stunned.

In the 19th over, Omarzai tore apart Ayush Shukla with three towering sixes and a boundary, racing to his maiden T20I fifty. Though his blitz ended at 53 off 21 balls, the damage was done—Afghanistan had gathered 78 runs in the last five overs.

At the other end, Atal played the perfect foil. Dropped thrice, he made Hong Kong pay dearly, finishing unbeaten on 73 from 52 balls, decorated with six fours and three sixes. Veteran Mohammad Nabi chipped in with a useful 33, adding 51 runs with Atal for the third wicket.

Hong Kong’s sloppy fielding, with five dropped catches—the most in a T20 Asia Cup innings, compounded their misery.

Hong Kong Falters in the Chase

Chasing 189, Hong Kong’s innings crumbled almost immediately. Afghanistan pacers struck early, reducing them to 22/4 inside five overs.

Babar Hayat fought a lone battle, striking three towering sixes in his 39 off 43 balls, but found little support. Once Gulbadin Naib dismissed him, the chase all but ended.

The wickets kept tumbling—Noor Ahmed, Rashid Khan, Omarzai, and Nabi all chipped in, while Naib (2/8) and Fazalhaq Farooqi (2/16) bowled miserly spells to dismantle Hong Kong’s fragile batting lineup. The innings crawled to 94/9 in 20 overs, falling short by a massive 94 runs.

Afghanistan’s Perfect Start

With this emphatic win, Afghanistan not only opened their Asia Cup campaign with momentum but also sent out a warning to other teams about their depth in both batting firepower and bowling discipline.

Hong Kong, on the other hand, will be left ruing missed chances and lack of intent, needing a quick turnaround if they are to stay alive in the tournament.

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Brief Scores:

Afghanistan 188/6 (Sediqullah Atal 73, Azmatullah Omarzai 53, Mohammad Nabi 33; Kinchit Shah 2/24)*
beat
Hong Kong 94/9 (Babar Hayat 39; Gulbadin Naib 2/8, Fazalhaq Farooqi 2/16)
Result: Afghanistan won by 94 runs