Abu Dhabi: Afghanistan enter the Asia Cup 2025 T20 opener against Hong Kong on Tuesday as firm favourites, bolstered by a strong batting and bowling lineup and a superior record in recent encounters against the side.
The Afghans have won three of the last four matches against Hong Kong and will look to maintain their dominance in the tournament opener at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium here.
Afghanistan, led by Rashid Khan, feature firepower at the top with Sediqullah Atal and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, while Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, and Azmatullah Omarzai add depth to the middle order. The team also relies on experienced campaigners Mohammad Nabi and Karim Janat. Rashid Khan leads a potent bowling attack, supported by Fazalhaq Farooqi, Azmatullah Omarzai, AM Ghazanfar, Mohammad Nabi, and Noor Ahmad, making the side well-equipped to dominate both with bat and ball.
Hong Kong, captained by Yasim Murtaza, faces a daunting challenge. The team has struggled for consistency over the past 24 months and will rely on top-order batsmen Anshuman Rath, Babar Hayat, and Martin Coetzee to provide a solid start. Nizakat Khan, Aizaz Khan, and Babar Hayat are expected to anchor the middle order, while bowlers Ateeq Iqbal, Adil Mehmood, and Kinchit Shah will look to contain Afghanistan’s powerful batting lineup.
The pitch at Sheikh Zayed Stadium is expected to favour batsmen, with a fast outfield and a track that has historically supported high scores. Spinners are likely to play a key role as the ball tends to turn sharply. Toss-winning teams have generally preferred to bowl first, given the difficulty in defending totals on this batting-friendly surface. The average first-innings score at this venue over the past 12 months is 183 runs, with teams batting first often aiming for totals around 200.
Afghanistan aim to start their campaign on a winning note after losing the final against Pakistan in the UAE T20I Tri-Series 2025, while Hong Kong will look to gain momentum in the tournament despite their limited experience against higher-ranked sides.
Predicted Playing XIs
Afghanistan: Rashid Khan (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Hong Kong: Yasim Murtaza (c), Anshuman Rath, Babar Hayat, Martin Coetzee, Nizakat Khan, Aizaz Khan, Zeeshan Ali (wk), Ateeq Iqbal, Ehsan Khan, Kinchit Shah, Adil Mehmood.