Abu Dhabi, (UAE): The highly anticipated Asia Cup 2025 kicked off on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi, promising an action-packed tournament this year. In the opening Group B match, Afghanistan took on Hong Kong. Despite being considered a strong team on paper, Afghanistan encountered a significant challenge early in their innings.
Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bat first. Their plan to score quickly and put the opposition under pressure, however, was disrupted by disciplined bowling from the Hong Kong side. Star opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz managed only 25 runs before being dismissed off Ayush Shukla’s delivery after a flick to the boundary.
Following this, Ibrahim Zadran (1) couldn’t maintain his wicket for long. Attempting a defensive shot against Atiq Iqbal’s over, Zadran returned to the pavilion, leaving Afghanistan at 26/2. The team lost two crucial wickets for just 26 runs, both falling in a tight over by Iqbal.
The Hong Kong bowlers continued to apply pressure on the Afghan batsmen. By the end of the powerplay, Afghanistan had reached 41 runs for the loss of 2 wickets in 6 overs. According to the latest updates, Afghanistan stands at 56/2 after 7 overs, with Sediqullah Atal (27) and Mohammad Nabi (18) at the crease. Both are focused on stabilizing the innings and preventing further dismissals.
