Abu Dhabi: Afghanistan rode on brilliant batting displays from Sediqullah Atal and Azmatullah Omarzai to post 188 for six and cruise to a commanding 94-run victory over Hong Kong in their Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 Group B opener at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium here on Tuesday night.
Winning the toss and opting to bat, Afghanistan faced early jitters as Rahmanullah Gurbaz (8) and Ibrahim Zadran (1) fell cheaply against disciplined Hong Kong bowling.
Gurbaz, in particular, continued his poor run on slow pitches, miscued a full delivery from Ayush Shukla, and was caught by Nizakat Khan in the second over. Zadran fell in similar fashion in the third over, offering Zeeshan Ali an easy catch.
Veteran Mohammad Nabi, promoted to No. 4, steadied the innings with a well-timed 33 off 26 balls. He found boundaries off Aizaz Khan and Kinchit Shah, hitting a six and three boundaries to keep Afghanistan in a competitive position. However, he was eventually dismissed by Shah, caught by Nizakat, breaking a crucial partnership.
Atal’s innings was a mix of resilience and aggression. Early in his knock, he survived three dropped chances, including one by skipper Yasim Murtaza. Once settled, he punished any loose deliveries with a variety of strokes.
The 16th over from Ateeq Iqbal turned the momentum: Atal struck three consecutive sixes and a boundary, racing past the fifty-run mark off 25 balls. By the 18th over, he had further accelerated, giving Afghanistan the launchpad for a big total before being dismissed in the 18.4 over, caught at long-on.
Omarzai joined the fray with under four overs remaining and unleashed a remarkable display of power hitting. In the 17th over, he began with a six off Ehsan Khan, followed by two quick runs and a further series of boundaries.
Omarzai's 18th over was a masterclass, producing three sixes and a boundary off Ayush Shukla, completing his maiden T20I fifty off just 20 balls. His late blitz helped Afghanistan add 58 runs in only 16 deliveries, finishing at 53 off 21 balls before being caught by Aizaz Khan.
Hong Kong’s bowling and fielding offered moments of resistance but were undermined by misfields and dropped catches. Kinchit (2/24) and Ayush Shukla (2/54) were the pick of the bowlers, while Ehsan Khan effected a crucial run-out of Karim Janat in the final over. However, these efforts came too late to stem the Afghan charge.
In reply, Hong Kong struggled against Afghanistan’s disciplined attack and sharp fielding. Babar Hayat top-scored with 39 off 43 balls, while Zeeshan Ali added 5. Gulbadin Naib (2/8) and Fazalhaq Farooqi (2/16) picked wickets at regular intervals, ensuring Hong Kong never built any meaningful partnerships. The visitors ended at 94/9 in 20 overs, succumbing to a 94-run defeat.
The Abu Dhabi pitch, carrying 3.5mm of grass, offered initial assistance to spinners but became easier to bat on as the game progressed. Afghanistan’s decision to bat first proved decisive, as Hong Kong faced the daunting task of chasing 189 in the high-pressure opening game.
Score Summary:
Afghanistan 188/6 in 20 overs (Sediqullah Atal 73*, Azmatullah Omarzai 53, Mohammad Nabi 33; Kinchit Shah 2/24, Ayush Shukla 2/54) beat Hong Kong 94/9 in 20 overs (Babar Hayat 39; Gulbadin Naib 2/8, Fazalhaq Farooqi 2/16) by 94 runs.
Afghanistan will take a massive confidence boost into their next Group B match, while Hong Kong faces an uphill task to recover in the tournament.
