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AFG vs HK Match 1 Statistical Preview: Key Stats, Records And Head To Head Ahead Of Asia Cup 2025 Clash

Jatin

AFG vs HK Preview [Source: @ACBofficials, @CricketHK/x.com]AFG vs HK Preview [Source: @ACBofficials, @CricketHK/x.com]

The Asia Cup 2025 is ready to roll and the curtain-raiser promises to be a fascinating clash under the lights at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Afghanistan will square off against Hong Kong on Tuesday, September 9 with the action starting at 8:00 PM IST.

Afghanistan

Rashid Khan’s men come into this opener licking their wounds after a disappointing loss to Pakistan in the UAE T20I Tri-Series Final. Their batting folded like a pack of cards that night, but this team still has match-winners across the board. Rahmanullah Gurbaz will look to provide a flying start, while Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal are expected to hold the innings together.

Azmatullah Omarzai adds muscle in the middle order and veterans like Mohammad Nabi and Rashid himself bring calmness with experience. Noor Ahmad and Fazalhaq Farooqi remain key with ball in hand, especially on Abu Dhabi’s two-paced surface.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong return to the Asia Cup after missing the 2023 edition and will want to make a statement right away. Babar Hayat’s explosive batting at the top is their biggest weapon while Anshuman Rath’s composure in the middle order gives them much-needed stability.

Zeeshan Ali has been one of their most consistent run-getters in T20Is and will play a crucial role here. With the ball, skipper Yasim Murtaza will look to lead from the front, backed by the experienced Aizaz Khan and Ehsan Khan. To upset Afghanistan, Hong Kong will need all their senior players firing in unison.

AFG vs HK Head To Head Overview

Afghanistan and Hong Kong have crossed swords in five T20Is and while the Afghans hold the upper hand with three wins, Hong Kong have shown in patches that they can spring a surprise with their two victories.

Sheikh Zayed Stadium Abu Dhabi Pitch Report

The surface at Sheikh Zayed Stadium is usually a balanced one. Batters enjoy the ball coming on nicely once they get their eye in while seamers and spinners both get help early in the innings. With chasing historically easier here, captains winning the toss are likely to bowl first and back their batters to finish the job under lights.

Afghanistan And Hong Kong Probable Playing XI

Afghanistan

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (c), Fazalhaq Farooqi, Allah Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad

Hong Kong

Babar Hayat, Anshuman Rath (wk), Martin Coetzee, Zeeshan Ali, Kalhan Challu, Kinchit Shah, Aizaz Khan, Yasim Murtaza (c), Mohammad Waheed, Nizakat Khan, Ehsan Khan

Top Run-Scorers In AFG vs HK

We are considering only the players present in the current squad.

Anshuman Rath: 87 Runs

Anshuman Rath has been solid with the bat in past meetings between the two teams as he has scored 87 runs in just three innings at a healthy average of 43.50. His ability to anchor while rotating strike makes him a vital cog in Hong Kong’s batting order.

Babar Hayat: 78 Runs

Swashbuckling opener, Babar Hayat has struck 78 runs in five innings, often giving Hong Kong brisk starts. With a strike rate of over 160, Hayat remains their best bet to counter Afghanistan’s fiery attack.

Nizakat Khan: 70 Runs

Nizakat Khan has added 70 runs in five innings against Afghanistan, but at a modest average. His role will be to provide solidity in the middle, though he will need to step up with a bigger contribution this time.

Top Wicket-Takers In AFG vs HK

We are considering only the players present in the current squad.

Mohammad Nabi: 11 Wickets

Evergreen all-rounder, Mohammad Nabi has been outstanding against Hong Kong, taking 11 wickets in just four matches. His best of 4/17 shows his knack for breaking partnerships and controlling the middle overs.

Aizaz Khan: 6 Wickets

Hong Kong’s reliable seamer, Aizaz Khan has picked up six wickets in five matches in this rivalry. His ability to strike with the new ball and at the death makes him one of their go-to bowlers.

Rashid Khan: 3 Wickets

Afghan skipper, Rashid Khan has three wickets in two matches against Hong Kong and will be itching to add to that tally. His variations on Abu Dhabi’s slowish pitch could spell big trouble for Hong Kong batters.

AFG vs HK Key Stats

Afghanistan's Key Records

  • Karim Janat has been a powerhouse at Sheikh Zayed Stadium as he has amassed 282 runs in 10 T20Is here at an average of 47.00 and a strike rate of 154.09, including three half-centuries.
  • Rahmanullah Gurbaz has racked up 188 runs in nine matches at this venue, scoring at a strike rate of 139.25.
  • Rashid Khan has dominated with the ball here, taking 16 wickets in 11 games at a miserly economy of 6.02.
  • Mohammad Nabi also has solid numbers, claiming seven wickets in 10 outings at an economy rate of 7.70.

Hong Kong’s Key Records

  • Babar Hayat is Hong Kong’s most prolific batter with 2216 runs in 95 T20Is at an average of 28.41 and a strike rate of 131.20, including two centuries.
  • Anshuman Rath has 1824 runs in 68 matches at an average of 30.40 and a strike rate of 121.76, proving himself as a dependable run-getter.
  • Zeeshan Ali has scored 1186 runs in 60 T20Is at an impressive strike rate of 141.96.
  • Ehsan Khan is Hong Kong’s all-time leading wicket-taker with 127 wickets in 94 T20Is at an economy of 6.26.
  • Yasim Murtaza has 70 wickets in 63 matches at a tidy economy of 6.33.

Records Which Could Be Broken In AFG vs HK Match 1 Of Asia Cup 2025

  • Rahmanullah Gurbaz is just two sixes away from completing 100 career T20I sixes.
  • Gulbadin Naib needs 35 runs to reach the milestone of 1000 T20I runs.
  • Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, with 65 wickets, requires three scalps to overtake Naveen-ul-Haq (67) and become Afghanistan’s third-highest wicket-taker in T20Is.
  • Babar Hayat, currently on 2216 runs, needs 67 more to surpass Nizakat Khan (2282) and become Hong Kong’s all-time leading run-scorer in T20Is.
  • Zeeshan Ali is four sixes away from bringing up 50 in T20Is.
  • Aizaz Khan needs four wickets to reach 100 T20I wickets and 17 runs to complete 1000 career T20I runs.