The Asia Cup 2025 will begin on September 9 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, with Afghanistan facing Hong Kong in the opening Group B match.
Read The Betting Professionals’ expert analysis for the 1st match of Asia Cup 2025 between Afghanistan vs Hong Kong, including top cricket betting sites and predictions.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong (AFG vs HKG) 1st Match Details, Asia Cup 2025
Series | Asia Cup 2025 |
Series Match No | 1st Match |
Format | T20I |
Match Date | 9th September 2025 |
Match Time | `08:00 PM IST |
Venue | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong (AFG vs HKG) 1st Match Teams Preview, Asia Cup 2025
Afghanistan (AFG) Preview
Afghanistan enter the Asia Cup 2025 after a tri-series final loss to Pakistan in the UAE. Despite the setback, the team showed strong performances, with crucial batting displays and impactful bowling spells. Under the leadership of Rashid Khan, Afghanistan will count on key players like Ibrahim Zadran, veteran Mohammad Nabi, and wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz to start their campaign positively.
Afghanistan Predicted XI
Rashid Khan (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Hong Kong (HKG) Preview
Hong Kong’s last competitive outing came in the Asia Pacific Cricket Championship Trophy 2025, where they finished as runners-up to Malaysia. Looking ahead to the Asia Cup, the team will be eager to showcase their potential on the continental stage and aim for a strong performance.
Hong Kong Predicted XI
Yasim Murtaza (c), Anshy Rath, Martin Coetzee, Kinchit Shah, Shahid Wasif, Zeeshan Ali (wk), Aizaz Khan, Nizakat Khan, Ateeq Iqbal, Ali Hassan, Ehsan Khan
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong (AFG vs HKG) Head to Head
Afghanistan and Hong Kong have faced each other in five matches. Out of these, Afghanistan have won three times, while Hong Kong have claimed victory on two occasions. There have been no tied games and no matches ending without a result. The first-ever meeting between the two teams took place on March 18, 2014, and their most recent encounter was held on March 10, 2016.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong (AFG vs HKG) 1st Match Pitch Report, Asia Cup 2025
The Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch in Abu Dhabi offers a balanced surface for T20 cricket, with pace and bounce aiding batters early on. As the match progresses, the pitch slows down, giving spinners more influence, though it turns less than Dubai’s surfaces. Playing conditions are expected to be warm and humid.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong (AFG vs HKG) 1st Match Key Players to Watch Out For
Afghanistan (AFG)
Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan, with 170 wickets in 100 T20Is at 13.74, enters the Asia Cup in top form and poses a big threat to Hong Kong.
Sediqullah Atal
Sediqullah Atal showed good form with the bat in the tri-series and, early in his T20I career, will look to carry that momentum forward.
Mohammad Nabi
Mohammad Nabi, with 136 T20Is, 2,249 runs, and over 100 wickets, remains Afghanistan’s seasoned match-winner.
Hong Kong (HKG)
Babar Hayat
Babar Hayat, Hong Kong’s No.3 mainstay, has 2,704 runs in 121 T20Is at 27.59, with 2 centuries and 13 fifties—making him their second-highest scorer.
Aizaz Khan
The all-rounder owns over 1,000 T20I runs and is also his side’s 2nd-highest wicket-taker with 96 wickets at 21.18.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Betting Odds
According to Vavada Betting, Afghanistan head into the match as heavy favorites with odds of 1.03 in 1st match of Asia Cup 2025, while Hong Kong are placed at 9.00.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Win Probability
Google’s win probability meter gives Afghanistan a 96% chance to win the Asia Cup 2025 opener, while Hong Kong’s chances stand at just 4%
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