AFG vs HK Match Preview, Who will win today Asia Cup 1st match?

By Akshay - Sep 09, 2025 10:11 AM
Last updated on Sep 09, 2025 10:13 AM

AFG vs HK Asia Cup 1st Match Prediction: Asia Cup 2025 will begin on September 9, 2025 at 08:00 PM (IST) at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, with the first match of Group B between Afghanistan and Hong Kong.

AFG vs HK Match Previews

Rashid Khan-led Afghanistan will be looking to bounce back from their defeat in the UAE T20 Tri-Series but will be bolstered by key players like Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Umarzai and the experienced Mohammad Nabi. Their bowling attack, which mainly consists of quality spinners Rashid and Noor Ahmed, is expected to trouble Hong Kong batsmen, especially on the two-way Abu Dhabi wicket.

Yasim Murtaza-led Hong Kong will rely heavily on Babar Hayat, Anshuman Rath and Zeeshan Ali for runs but they do not have the consistency and depth that Afghanistan have.

AFG vs HK Pitch Report

The pitch at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi for today's AFG vs HK Asia Cup 2025 match is expected to be batsman-friendly initially, with consistent bounce and good carry for stroke play, allowing batsmen to score freely in the initial overs. As the match progresses, the pitch slows down, allowing spinners and slow bowlers to come into play, providing turn and grip in the middle overs.

The average first innings score in T20Is at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi is 136. This figure is taken from the most recent official match statistics

Who will win today's Asia Cup 1st match between AFG vs HK?

Aaj ka AFG vs HK match kon jeetega: With their excellent team quality, recent form and formidable spin bowling ability, Afghanistan are highly likely to win today's first match against Hong Kong in Asia Cup 2025. Many expert sources predict that Afghanistan will dominate this match, and the winning margin is generally expected to be quite good—even if Hong Kong bats first, they may still have to struggle against Afghanistan's experienced bowlers.

AFG vs HK Match Playing 11

Afghanistan Probable Playing 11: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (c), Fazalhaq Farooqi, Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad.

Hong Kong Probable Playing 11: Babar Hayat, Anshuman Rath (wk), Martin Coetzee, Zeeshan Ali, Kalhan Challu, Kinchit Shah, Aizaz Khan, Yasim Murtaza (c), Mohammad Waheed, Nizakat Khan, Ehsan Khan.

AFG vs HK Top Picks

• Rahmanullah Gurbaz: Has scored 188 runs in 9 matches at Sheikh Zayed Stadium with a strike rate of 139.25, known for explosive starts.
• Rashid Khan: Captain and leg-spinner with 16 wickets in 11 games at Sheikh Zayed Stadium at an excellent economy rate of 6.02.
• Mohammad Nabi: All-rounder with 7 wickets in 10 outings at this venue and an economy of 7.70; a key player with both bat and ball.
• Babar Hayat: Leading batsman for Hong Kong with 2,216 runs in 95 T20Is at an average of 28.41 and a strike rate of 131.20, including two centuries.
• Anshuman Rath: Wicketkeeper-batsman with 1,824 runs in 68 matches at an average of 30.40 and a strike rate of 121.76, known for stability.

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