Cricket lovers across the globe are the ones who will keep their eyes on the wonderful competition as the Asia Cup 2025 is going to be launched in the UAE from the 9th to the 28th of September. The tournament’s first game will be a meeting of Afghanistan and Hong Kong in the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. While this match is the start of the race, it is also the first encounter of Group B, from which the candidates make their mood, being there not only for Afghanistan and Hong Kong but also Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
This game is also anticipated to be a close fight and thrilling, with Hong Kong having a tough time passing the qualifiers and Afghanistan establishing itself as a solid team in international cricket. Besides cricket, the match has also captured the attention of the betting market, where enthusiasts are already looking at the odds and predictions.
Asia Cup 2025 Overview
One of the most prominent cricket competitions in the region is the Asia Cup, including full members of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), besides Hong Kong, Oman and United Arab Emirates, In addition to allies like Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and India. The 2025 competition will be held in T20 format to be played in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. On September 28, 2025, the final will be held in Dubai. For Asian countries, the competition is important leading up to the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
Probable Squads: Afghanistan vs Hong Kong
Afghanistan’s 2025 Asia Cup team is led by power hitters Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Najibullah Zadran, with spin stars Rashid Khan and Mujeeb ur Rahman. Under the leadership of Nizakat Khan, Hong Kong fields adaptable all-round players like Yasim Murtaza and Kinchit Shah with the goal of taking on more powerful opponents.
| Afghanistan Player Name | Role | Hong Kong Player Name | Role |
| Rashid Khan ( captain) | All-rounder | Nizakat Khan © | Top-order Batter |
| Fareed Ahmad Malik | Bowler | Mohammad Ghazanfar | Leg Spinner |
| Fazalhaq Farooqui | Bowler | Ahan Trivedi | Batting All-Rounder |
| Naveen ul Haq | Bowler | Wajid Shah | Left-arm Spinner |
| Mujeeb ur Rahman | Bowler | Nasrulla Rana | Bowler |
| Noor Ahmad | Bowler | Scott McKechnie | Wicketkeeper |
| Nangyal Kharoti | All-rounder | Zeeshan Ali | Fast Bowler |
| Karim Janat | All-rounder | Aftab Hussain | Medium-fast Bowler |
| Gulbadin Naib | All-rounder | Ehsan Khan | Off-Spinner |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | All-rounder | Ayush Shukla | Right-arm Fast Bowler |
| Mohammad Nabi | All-rounder | Haroon Arshad | All rounder |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Wicketkeeper | Aizaz Khan | Bowling All-Rounder |
| Ibrahim Zadran | Batter | Kinchit Shah | Wicketkeeper Batter |
| Mohammad Ishaq | Wicketkeeper | Yasim Murtaza | Batting All-Rounder |
| Najibullah Zadran | Batter | Babar Hayat | Middle-order Batter |
Afghanistan: The Favourites
Afghanistan, famous for its brilliant batting and top-notch spin bowling, gradually developed in a T20 powerhouse. The team appears balanced and full of confidence under the leadership of Rashid Khan.
Strengths:
- Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan spearheaded the spin attack.
- Young pace bowlers like Naveen-ul-Haq offer variability.
- Najibullah Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz are examples of aggressive batters.
Afghan players have experience playing in the International T20 League, thus knowing how to handle pressure. Afghanistan will mostly depend on their bowlers to limit Hong Kong and will depend on their top order to pursue or determine the high target in this match.
Hong Kong: The Underdogs
Hong Kong’s notable performance in the ACC Premier Cup, where he guaranteed his merit slot, led him to participate in the Asia Cup. Hongkong has demonstrated a sense of flexibility and perseverance in the previous tournaments, while the star power of its competitors is lacking.
Strengths:
- Reliability on Nizakat Khan and other top-order hitters.
- All-rounders with the ability to contribute in both areas.
- Possessing the ability to play cricket fearlessly without much outside pressure.
Hong Kong wants to prove it and compete at the highest level by testing itself against a top team in this match.
Read Also: Asia Cup September 9 2025 Cricket Betting ID
Betting Insights
According to the initial betting pattern, Afghanistan are preferred to win the event. According to websites such as Odds Portal and Cricket Betting Forums, Afghanistan has fewer obstacles than Hong Kong, even though official odds have not yet been release. Why Afghanistan are preferred:
- Demonstrated success in T20 cricket.
- Stronger individual match-winners and team depth.
- Dominance over Hong Kong in previous encounters.
However, Hong Kong will have significantly better odds, making it a desirable choice for gamblers seeking low-cost bets. While Afghan hitters are predicted to win powerplays, betting experts predict that Afghanistan’s bowlers could keep Hong Kong under 140 runs.
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Conclusion
The September 9, 2025, Afghanistan vs Hong Kong match is more than the opener of the Asia Cup; This is a conflict between skills and drives. Although Afghanistan is a favorite due to its elite talent, Hong Kong’s determination can make it a close competition.
This game will give initial information to the audience and bookies to the game team form, strategy, and potential course of the tournament. Cricket has always been a surprise, so even though it is predict to dominate, Afghanistan vs Hong Kong will try to pull one of the biggest upsets in the Asia Cup’s history.
FAQs
Q1. Where is cricket for the 2025 Asia Cup?
This time, the competition will be held in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and will be in T20 format from 9 September to 28 September. The start time has been changed for 18 out of the 19 DP World Asia Cup 2025 matches.
Q2. Where can the audience watch the 2025 Asia Cup match between Afghanistan and Hong Kong?
Star Sports Network will broadcast the game in India, and Disney+ Hotstar will stream it live. Updates are available for fans in other areas on websites.
Q3. Which players should you keep an eye on in this match?
Rashid Khan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Naveen-ul-Haq are important figures for Afghanistan. Nizakat Khan, Ehsan Khan, and Kinchit Shah can be important for Hong Kong.
Q4. Who will be the captain of Afghanistan in 2025?
Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan has been select captain of Afghanistan’s spin-heavy Asia Cup team, which will start in the United Arab Emirates on September 9.
Q5. Who is the key player of the Hong Kong team?
Nizakat Khan is the key player of the Hong Kong team.

