AFG vs HK Asia Cup 2025: Pitch Report, Head-to-Head, Playing 11, AI Prediction

The 17th edition of the prestigious Asia Cup 2025 kicks off on Tuesday, 9th September, with an exciting clash between Afghanistan (AFG) and Hong Kong (HK) at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Indian fans can watch the live game starting at 8:00 PM IST on Fancode. This match marks the beginning of a highly competitive tournament featuring some of Asia’s best cricketing nations.

Match Details: AFG vs HK

Detail	Information
Series	Asia Cup 2025
Match	Afghanistan vs Hong Kong, 1st Match
Venue	Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Date & Time	9th September 2025, 8:00 PM IST
Live Streaming	Fancode

Match Preview

Afghanistan and Hong Kong, who are both in Group B, will have a difficult time because this group is also known as the "group of death" and includes Asia Cup heavyweights like Sri Lanka and a perennially competitive Bangladesh.

Afghanistan enters this tournament after a setback in the UAE T20I Tri-Series 2025 final, where they were comprehensively beaten by Pakistan by 75 runs. Currently ranked 9th in ICC Men’s T20I rankings, Rashid Khan’s men will look to start their Asia Cup campaign on a winning note and build momentum for tougher contests ahead.

Hong Kong, meanwhile, are ranked 24th in the ICC T20I standings and suffered a crushing 10-wicket defeat against Malaysia in the Asia Pacific Cricket Champions Trophy final. Skipper Yasim Murtaza will be hoping his team can punch above their weight and pull off an early upset in this high-pressure group.

Head-to-Head Stats: AFG vs HK

Matches Played	Afghanistan Wins	Hong Kong Wins	Ties	No Result
5	3	2	0	0

The two teams have faced each other five times, with Afghanistan holding a slight edge in victories.

Pitch Report: Sheikh Zayed Stadium

The Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch has progressively become more favorable to batsmen, with the ball coming onto the bat nicely. Spinners have profited from quick turn throughout games at this location, while fast bowlers struggle with little help.

Weather Report: Abu Dhabi

The weather is expected to be clear with temperatures staying above 25°C. Humidity will rise slowly as the evening progresses, providing typical conditions characteristic of Abu Dhabi evenings.

Probable Playing 11

Afghanistan (AFG) Playing 11

1. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2. Ibrahim Zadran, 3. Sediqullah Atal, 4. Darwish Rasooli, 5. Karim Janat, 6. Azmatullah Omarzai, 7. Rashid Khan (c), 8. Mohammad Nabi, 9. AM Ghazanfar, 10. Noor Ahmad, 11. Fazalhaq Farooqi

Hong Kong (HK) Playing 11

1. Anshuman Rath, 2. Zeeshan Ali (wk), 3. Babar Hayat, 4. Nizakat Khan, 5. Matthew Coetzee, 6. Yasim Murtaza (c), 7. Ehsan Khan, 8. Aizaz Khan, 9. Ateeq Iqbal, 10. Nasrulla Rana, 11. Ayush Shukla

Who Will Win Today’s Match? (AI Prediction)

On paper, Afghanistan is far stronger than Hong Kong, boasting world-class T20 performers like Rashid Khan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Mohammad Nabi. Their spin attack is tailor-made for Abu Dhabi conditions, and they also have power hitters capable of changing the game in a few overs.

While Hong Kong has a few experienced names like Babar Hayat and Nizakat Khan, their inconsistency against top-tier bowling attacks remains a concern. Unless their top order fires big, it will be tough for them to counter Afghanistan’s bowling depth.

AI Prediction: Afghanistan to win this match.

Also Read: India Asia Cup 2025: Complete Schedule, Squad, Date, Match Details