Afghanistan vs Hong Kong, 1st Match, Group B at Abu Dhabi, Asia Cup, Sep 09 2025 - Ball by Ball Commentary

10:40pm That will be all from us for tonight. We will be back again tomorrow with more Asia Cup action as India open their campaign against the UAE. Until then, from Sudeep, Thilak and myself (Shashwat), this is goodbye!

Azmatullah Omarzai, Player of the Match: Very tough batting in the lower order, all about belief. The captain and coach have belief in me, was trying to back myself and was trying to hit straight with the ball coming on nice. We lost early wickets, so I was just speaking to Sediqullah that we will bat till the 16th and then look for boundaries. We were looking to hit straight and were looking for our favourite balls (to hit). (On if he is a bowling or batting all-rounder) I think I am both. When I get bowling, I feel I am a proper bowler; when I bat, I feel I am a proper batter. It is 50-50 (smiles)

Rashid Khan, Afghanistan captain: It was great. Good to put a total on the board. In the last series as well, (losing) early wickets - that is very key for us and we have to look into it. Upcoming games are very important and that is an area if we can make it better…overall, it was a great performance. That (middle order coming good) was something I wanted to see, especially Azmatullah (and his innings). If you have good spinners, it puts extra pressure. If you have runs on the board…with batters trying to take risks, that is where you are more effective (as spinners), and that is why we are defending better than chasing. But in T20, we have to chase also, so the mentality has to be to chase as well and have a good record. (On having so many bowling options) That is a very tough ask, (selecting) the playing eleven (as well). To keep Mujeeb out is a tough decision, then Noor as well (was left out) in some games. I forgot to bowl my two overs (tonight at first). You have to see who is more successful against a particular batter (and then see). Good thing is I have options and that makes the job easier.

Yasim Murtaza, Hong Kong captain: (On the experience of playing Afghanistan) Feels like a dream come true. We know Asia Cup is one of the bigger tournaments in Asia, so we were really excited for that. I was not expecting that total on the board. At one stage, I was thinking they would get 150. Credit goes to their batters, especially Omarzai, getting 50 off 20 balls - that is a game-changer. The positive things for us was Babar with the bat and our spinners bowled well. Once we go back from here, at least we have something to work on.

10:27pm A very comfortable win for Afghanistan. 189 always seemed a tall order and once Afghanistan made early inroads, that task got significantly tougher for Hong Kong. Hayat tried to hang in, scratching his way to 39, but with only one other batter getting into double digits, Hong Kong, still searching for a win in the men's Asia Cup, fell well short.

A decent outing with the ball for Afghanistan. Naib bagged the best figures, with the likes of Noor, Rashid and Farooqi not shabby either. Almost all of their bowlers got some miles under their legs and as bigger tests come up, that could still prove vital. Stick around for the post-match presentation.

Kasinathan: "This match's NRR boost will come handy for Afganistan in case of a three way tie "

Azweer : "If Afghanistan bowl out Hongkong will there be a huge difference in NRR? " -- The number of wickets do not come into NRR calculations, so will not make much of a difference.

Iqbal is the last batter in. Around the wicket

Farooqi to bowl the final over of this game

Ayush is the new batter in

saikat: "Is there DRS available? " -- Yes it is, but Afghanistan have burnt both of their reviews this innings...