AFG vs HKG Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025: Schedule, Squads, Venues, Stats, News
This year’s Men’s T20 Asia Cup is all set to begin with a royal clash between two monarch teams Afghanistan and Hong Kong. The opening Group B will be taking place on September 09, 2025, at 8:00 PM (local time) in Abu Dhabi. Cricket fans from all over the world are excited to see how these two sides are going to kick off their campaigns in this highly competitive tournament.
In this blog, we are going to cover all the schedule, squads, head-to-head record, key players, stats, and latest news, along with predictions.
Match Overview: Afghanistan vs Hong Kong
The first match of Group B will be featuring Afghanistan vs Hong Kong, two sides with cricket journeys that are very different. Afghanistan enters this tournament as a strong, rising force in world cricket, whereas Hong Kong looks to make a mark in this game with a spirited performance.
- Date: Tuesday, September 09, 2025
- Time: 8:00 PM (local time)
- Venue: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
This match will set the tone for Group B, thus, making it an important fixture for both teams.
Head-to-Head Record
The past matches between these two teams, (between Afghanistan and Hong Kong) have produced some worth-looking results. Both teams have shared wins, but Afghanistan has had the upper hand in the past few years.
Last 5 Matches:
- On 10 March 2016 – Afghanistan won by 6 wickets (12 balls remaining)
- On 22 February 2016 – Afghanistan won by 66 runs
- On 28 November 2015 – Hong Kong won by 4 wickets (2 balls remaining)
- On 21 July 2015 – Hong Kong won by 5 wickets (0 balls remaining)
- On 18 March 2014 – Afghanistan won by 7 wickets (12 balls remaining)
Afghanistan is clearly leading with 3 wins out of the last 5, which is giving them confidence before this match.
Squads & Players to Watch
Afghanistan Squad (Key Names)
- Rashid Khan (c) – He is the captain & also a player great at bowling
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) – He has explosive strength for both opening and wicketkeeping
- Azmatullah Omarzai – He is a dynamic allrounder with bat and ball
- Mohammad Nabi – He is a veteran allrounder with years of experience
- Mujeeb Ur Rahman & Noor Ahmad – They are two spinners with great skiils
- Naveen-ul-Haq – He with his batting aced in the T20 match
Hong Kong Squad (Probables)
While Hong Kong’s full squad isn’t detailed right now, some expected key names such as Babar Hayat, Nizakat Khan, and Ehsan Khan will feature because they bring experience and firepower to the table.
Players in Focus: Recent Stats
Batters to Watch
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (AFG) – 10 matches • 189 runs • Avg 18.9 • SR 104.41
- Azmatullah Omarzai (AFG) – 10 matches • 159 runs • Avg 15.9 • SR 98.75
Bowlers to Watch
- Naveen-ul-Haq (AFG) – 9 matches • 19 wickets • Econ 6.72 • SR 10.57
- Rashid Khan (AFG) – 10 matches • 18 wickets • Econ 6.73 • SR 12.33
Afghanistan clearly has the edge in bowling, because it has two aces; Rashid Khan and Naveen-ul-Haq in their top form.
Some Latest News & Expectations
The buzz around the Asia Cup 2025 is becoming massive day-by-day, especially because this is the first big tournament which is leading into the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Afghanistan’s squad depth, with a mix of experienced old players and young talent, makes them favorites of the fans.
As for Hong Kong, this is an opportunity to test their skills against a team that is higher-ranked. Upsets are always possible in T20 cricket, but Hong Kong will still give it their all with fearless batting and discipline in the field.
Fans can expect:
- Power-hitting from two players- Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran
- Spin magic can be seen from Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman
- Hong Kong’s resilience with their experienced top order
Match Prediction
Based on recent form and analysis, it’s clear that Afghanistan holds the advantage. Their bowling attack is world-class, with Rashid Khan, Mujeeb, and Naveen. Gurbaz and Nabi provide great batting in the field, giving Afghanistan balance in both. However, Hong Kong is still an underdog and if their top-order batters click and their bowlers give into pressure, then the game could be over earlier than expected.
In short, the predicted winner is – Afghanistan.
Final Words
The match is just not an opener but rather it’s a battle of rising cricket nations, showing off their passion, talent, and resilience. No matter if Afghanistan dominantes or Hong Kong pulls off a surprise, fans are guaranteed to witness a fireworks game on September 09 in Abu Dhabi.
