AFG vs HKG Highlights, Asia Cup 20025: The side of Rashid Khan presented a strong performance to start their 2025 Asia Cup campaign powerfully. With a frail beginning on the slow pitch in Abu Dhabi, Afghanistan elected to bat first and was able to compete with a respectable total of 188/6. The initial blows of the ball had put them at 95/4 in the 13 th over but Sediqullah Atal pegged the innings to a steady 50 and Azmatullah Omarzai gave the team a cutting edge with a twenty ball cameo.
The pursuit of Hong Kong did not get any steam. Fazalhaq Farooqi hit early with a wicket in his second ball and three others were downed in the powerplay. Babar Hayat provided the resistance with 39 out of 43 ball runs but the other line did not make a substantial contribution.
Bowlers of Afghanistan prevailed in all fronts and only a few bowlers failed to get a scalp. The Hongkongs were later capped at 94/9 giving their team a 94-run win and an ideal launch into their Asia Cup campaign.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: Afghanistan began their Asia Cup 2025 campaign with a strong win over Hong Kong. Chasing 189, Hong Kong struggled, with only Babar Hayat hitting a few sixes. Afghanistan overcame early dropped catches and rotated seven bowlers, with Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad completing their full quotas.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: Ehsan Khan’s innings ended at 6 runs from 11 balls as he was caught and bowled by Fazalhaq Farooqi. Stepping out to punch a slower ball around leg-stump, Khan only managed a chipped shot, allowing Farooqi to bend low and take a simple catch. The dismissal added to Afghanistan’s dominance in the match.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: Hong Kong’s innings suffered a blow as captain Yasim Murtaza was trapped LBW by Gulbadin Naib. A slower-ball leg-cutter floated on a good length, and Murtaza’s attempted swipe missed, striking his back thigh. The late decision by umpire Virender Sharma proved correct, dismissing Murtaza for 16 runs from 26 balls, further tilting momentum in Afghanistan’s favor.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: Yasim Murtaza and Ehsan Khan played cautiously but effectively, rotating the strike and punishing loose deliveries. Murtaza’s loft over long-off for four stood out in the over, while Ehsan picked singles to maintain momentum. Noor Ahmad bowled well with spin and variations, but the duo’s measured approach helped Hong Kong stay in the contest.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: Aizaz Khan’s innings ended at 6 runs from 10 balls as he was caught by Mohammad Nabi off Rashid Khan. Attempting a slogsweep on a full toss around middle, Khan skied the ball towards long-on. Nabi tracked it perfectly and took a high catch, showcasing sharp reflexes and giving Afghanistan another key wicket.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: Babar Hayat’s aggressive innings came to an end as he was caught by Sediqullah Atal off Gulbadin Naib. Attempting to hit a short delivery on off, Hayat failed to generate enough power, sending a simple catch to deep mid-wicket. He finished with 39 runs from 43 balls, including three towering sixes, leaving Hong Kong in a challenging position.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: Gulbadin Naib tightened the screws with disciplined bowling, limiting Hayat and Yasim Murtaza to just singles and dot balls. Hayat managed a run off a slower full toss, while a flick on a swinging delivery went uncalled as a wide. Yasim Murtaza attempted aggressive shots, including a big slog and a cut, but failed to make contact, often edging or missing the ball entirely. Gulbadin’s consistent line and length from the new spell kept the batsmen under pressure and prevented Hong Kong from accelerating the innings.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: Noor Ahmad removed Kinchit Shah for 6 with a tossed up full delivery, which was met with an audacious aerial sweep. Janat, who had earlier dropped an easier chance, redeemed himself spectacularly by running to his right and taking a one handed diving catch at deep backward square leg. Rashid Khan celebrated the breakthrough quietly, while the fielding brilliance from Janat highlighted his growing confidence. Earlier, both Hayat and Kinchit Shah had rotated the strike with clever singles and lofted shots, keeping Hong Kong competitive before this crucial dismissal.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: Hayat turned the tide with an explosive six over long on, showing aggressive intent against Rashid Khan’s deliveries. Alongside him, Kinchit Shah contributed with well placed singles and a pulled shot to deep mid wicket. Rashid’s consistent good length balls tested the batsmen, but smart footwork and selective aggression allowed Hong Kong to rotate the strike effectively. The combination of calculated singles and a powerful lofted shot highlighted Hayat’s ability to balance caution with aggression under pressure.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: Noor Ahmad maintained tight lines, testing both Hayat and Kinchit Shah with a mix of full tosses, length balls, and short deliveries. Hayat played cautiously, scoring a couple of singles but missing or mistiming several shots, including a sweep and a cut. Kinchit Shah managed a neat drive for a single. Afghanistan’s disciplined bowling and close field placements, including a slip, kept the pressure on Hong Kong, though the batsmen managed to rotate the strike and prevent a complete collapse.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: Hayat and Kinchit Shah steadied the innings with singles and smart placement, keeping Hong Kong ticking along. Rashid Khan’s disciplined bowling created pressure, including a review for a caught behind appeal that was rightly overturned. Despite the tight lines and lengths, the batsmen managed to rotate the strike effectively, forcing Afghanistan to stay alert in the field while trying to maintain control over the run flow.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: A brief interruption occurred as Kinchit Shah stretched a hamstring, prompting the physio to attend. During this period, Hayat managed to sneak two runs off a full toss from Rashid Khan, flicking it through square leg. Rashid expressed his displeasure at the fielder’s slow response, highlighting Afghanistan’s intensity in the field. Despite the minor break, Hong Kong continued to chip away at runs while Afghanistan tried to maintain control.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: Afghanistan continued to apply pressure as Kalhan Challu was run out for 4, courtesy of a sharp piece of fielding by Azmatullah. Earlier, Challu had managed a couple of runs off a well placed shot, but the team’s aggressive running proved costly. Hong Kong’s Rashid Khan showed visible frustration after a drop by Janat at third man, highlighting their fielding struggles. Azmatullah’s return to the attack kept the Afghan bowlers in control, maintaining the upper hand in the early stages of the innings.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: Hayat departed without scoring after a precise run out executed by Rashid Khan off Fazalhaq Farooqi’s delivery. Attempting a risky shot, Hayat missed the ball, leaving himself vulnerable to the sharp fielding. Farooqi’s consistent pressure and Rashid’s alertness combined to give Afghanistan another early breakthrough, leaving Hong Kong reeling at the top of their innings.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: Azmatullah Omarzai made an immediate impact in his opening over, dismissing Zeeshan Ali for 5 after a sharp catch by Nabi at cover. The Hong Kong batter, who had earlier struck a boundary, struggled against the movement and bounce before falling. Hayat, at the other end, survived some nervy moments with thick edges and tentative pushes but managed to add a single. With Hong Kong already two wickets down inside two overs, Afghanistan seized early control of the contest.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: Fazalhaq Farooqi gave Afghanistan the perfect start by dismissing Anshuman Rath for a golden duck with his second ball. Rath nicked a moving delivery outside off, safely pouched by Gurbaz behind the stumps. Earlier, Zeeshan Ali opened with a single, while a wayward delivery also cost Afghanistan five wides. Babar Hayat then joined at the crease, but Hong Kong were rocked early by Farooqi’s trademark powerplay strike.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: Afghanistan piled on a daunting total after smashing 78 runs in the final five overs, capitalizing on Hong Kong’s sloppy fielding. Sediqullah Atal, dropped multiple times, carried his bat and accelerated brilliantly after his fifty. Crucial partnerships with Nabi and Azmatullah provided momentum, while Hong Kong’s five dropped catches and frequent fumbles compounded their misery. Now, Hong Kong face a massive challenge to chase down the target.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: Ayush Shukla finished with figures of 2/54, marking the joint second-most expensive bowling performance in Asia Cup history. His spell equals Zeeshan Maqsood’s 1/54 against Hong Kong in Fatullah, 2016, and is only behind Fareed Ahmad’s 2/57 against India in Dubai, 2022. The expensive outing came as Afghanistan unleashed a late-onslaught in their innings.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: Afghanistan produced a stunning finish, scoring 78 runs in the last five overs. The late-onslaught saw relentless hitting, capitalising on some lapses in Hong Kong’s fielding. This explosive display transformed the innings into a high-scoring spectacle and put Afghanistan in a dominant position heading into the conclusion of their innings.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: Karim Janat was dismissed while attempting an ambitious shot to clear the rope. Ehsan Khan delivered a full ball around off, and Janat’s effort ended with a simple catch taken by Nizakat Khan. Janat departed for just 2 runs from 3 balls, further denting Afghanistan’s innings and strengthening Hong Kong’s grip on the match.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: Azmatullah Omarzai delivered a sensational innings, smashing a rapid fifty off just 20 balls, including three consecutive sixes, before falling caught by Aizaz Khan off Ayush Shukla. His aggressive assault featured a mix of clever placement and powerful hitting, with shots racing to the boundary and over the fence. Despite his dismissal for 53 runs from 21 balls, Azmatullah’s fiery knock gave Afghanistan a huge boost in their innings.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: Sediqullah Atal turned the tide for Afghanistan with a blistering display in a massive 25-run over off Ateeq Iqbal. The over featured back-to-back sixes, a boundary, and multiple wides as pressure mounted on the Hong Kong bowler. Atal’s aggressive strokes, including a powerful lap past square leg and big hits to deep square leg and cow corner, gave Afghanistan significant momentum and put them in a commanding position.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: Sediqullah Atal reached his fifty with a well-timed shot off Kinchit Shah, turning the game around for Afghanistan. After being dropped in the first over, Atal made the most of his opportunity, holding one end and playing with confidence. He punched a flatter delivery in front of square for two runs, showcasing his intent to push Afghanistan toward a competitive total.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: Afghanistan’s batting woes continued as Gulbadin Naib was caught by Yasim Murtaza off Kinchit Shah’s bowling. In a dismissal mirroring Nabi’s, Shah drifted the ball across from round the wicket, tempting Gulbadin to loft it down the ground. The shot went high in the air, allowing Murtaza near cover to take a simple catch. Gulbadin departed after scoring 5 runs from 8 balls, giving Hong Kong a strong position.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: Afghanistan’s momentum took a hit as Mohammad Nabi was caught by Nizakat Khan off Kinchit Shah’s bowling. Trying to play down the ground, Nabi miscued the shot and offered an easy catch to long off. Nabi’s aggressive innings of 33 runs from 26 balls, including three fours and one six, came to an end, giving Hong Kong a vital breakthrough.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: Mohammad Nabi took charge in the final moments of the over, smashing a boundary followed by a towering six off Aizaz Khan. After a dot ball to Sediqullah Atal, Nabi drove the ball to long off for a single, then unleashed aggressive strokes a powerful four over extra cover and a clean six over long off injecting momentum into Afghanistan’s innings.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: Afghanistan’s troubles deepened as Ibrahim Zadran was caught by Zeeshan Ali off Ateeq Iqbal’s bowling. After a promising start, Zadran attempted an ambitious drive but edged the ball, which nibbled away slightly. Zeeshan took a sharp catch, dismissing Zadran for just 1 run off 4 balls, giving Hong Kong two early wickets in quick succession.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: Afghanistan suffered an early blow as Rahmanullah Gurbaz was caught by Nizakat Khan off Ayush Shukla’s bowling. Attempting to repeat a big shot, Gurbaz miscued a fullish delivery and sent it high towards mid-off. Nizakat tracked the ball well, taking a safe catch to dismiss Gurbaz for 8 runs from 5 balls, leaving Afghanistan in early trouble.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: Afghanistan began their innings in aggressive fashion with Sediqullah Atal taking full advantage of Hong Kong bowler Ayush Shukla. Atal struck three boundaries in the opening over, including two powerful fours and capitalised on a dropped catch by Hong Kong skipper Yasim Murtaza. Despite a couple of dot balls, Afghanistan raced off to a blistering start.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: 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 vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: 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
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: Afghanistan won the toss and decided to bat in their Asia Cup 2025 opener against Hong Kong, setting the stage for an exciting contest.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Live Cricket Score: The last encounter between Afghanistan and Hong Kong took place in the 2016 T20 World Cup in India. Mohammad Nabi earned the Man of the Match award as Afghanistan secured a memorable victory over Hong Kong.
Afghan captain Rashid Khan criticised the organisers for holding the Asia Cup 2025 press conference in Dubai just hours before their opener against Hong Kong. He revealed that he and Hong Kong skipper Yasim Murtaza had to travel over an hour immediately after the conference to reach the match. Rashid stressed the need for professionalism despite the logistical challenges.
Hong Kong has participated in 11 Asia Cup matches so far but has yet to secure a single win. As they prepare to face Afghanistan in Asia Cup 2025, the team is determined to break their losing streak and claim their historic first victory.
At the age of 40, Mohammad Nabi continues to shine with remarkable consistency. He stands just 51 runs away from reaching the major milestone of 6,000 international runs. Achieving this feat will make him the first Afghan player to cross that historic threshold.
The Sheikh Zayed Stadium of Dubai provides batters the most stroke making opportunities but the bowlers can also make an impact.Â
Any first innings score in 165 -170 range is regarded as competitive, as the rate had been slowly falling in the later overs. The winning of the toss is likely to leave the winning team batting first to set the right base and then take advantage of the hard chase condition produced by the deceleration of the pitch.
The weather in Abu Dhabi is expected to be hot and humid. Maximum temperature is set to be around 38 degrees.Â
