The Asia Cup 2025 is finally here. We will see Afghanistan vs Hong Kong in the Asia Cup 2025 1st Match. Eventually, the date for the match is the 9th of September, whereas the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi is the venue for the match. The match will start at 6:30 PM local time, and it will be 8 PM as per the Indian Standard Time.
Afghanistan has just recently played a tri-series in the United Arab Emirates. They were in the finals against Pakistan but lost the finals by 75 runs. The team has gotten used to the conditions, and Rashid Khan’s form seems to be back as he took nine wickets. This will be the first time that Oman will play in the Asia Cup. Both teams are in Group B of the Asia Cup 2025. Let us see which teams start their Asia Cup journey on a positive note.
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Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Asia Cup 2025 1st Match: Head-to-Head
Both Afghanistan and Hong Kong have faced each other five times in the T20 format so far. You might think that Afghanistan would be the team that would have clear dominance, but it is not the scenario. In the five matches, Afghanistan have won three matches, and at the same time, Hong Kong have won two matches. Let us see if Hong Kong makes it three each after winning this match against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup.
What can be the starting Lineups of Afghanistan and Hong Kong in the 1st Match?
The squad that Afghanistan sent on to play the Tri-series against Pakistan and the UAE has not reported injuries. There are chances that we will see the same starting eleven that started the final against Pakistan in the tri-series. The Oman team has great all-rounders. Let us have a look at the expected line-ups:
Afghanistan Lineup:
- Batsmen: Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal
- Wicketkeeper: Rahmanullah Gurbaz
- All-rounders: Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, and Rashid Khan
- Bowlers: Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq, and Noor Ahmad
Hong Kong Lineup:
- Batsmen: Babar Hayat, Kalhan Challu, and Martin Coetzeem
- Wicketkeeper: Anshuman Rath and Zeeshan Ali
- All-rounders: Kinchit Shah and Anas Khan
- Bowlers: Mohammad Waheed, Nizakat Khan, Yasim Murtaza, and Ehsan Khan
What is the venue and Weather Forecast for the Afghanistan and Hong Kong match?
The Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi is the venue for the first match of the Asia Cup 2025, which is between Afghanistan and Hong Kong. Basically, the match starts at 6:30 local time, and 9th September is the date. The ground has a total capacity of around 19,000. The two ends in the stadium are the North End and the Pavilion End.
Basically, there are almost no chances for rain, and we can expect a full match. Surely, during the evening match, the temperatures go down compared to the day. It will be a bit humid as the temperature can be between 33 degrees and 37 degrees.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong: Match Predictions
It is fair to say the Afghanistan team is surely one of the favorites going into this Asia Cup. In recent years, the team has done well in bigger competitions. They surely have more quality compared to their opponents on the pitch. We are predicting Afghanistan to win this match and start their campaign on a positive note.
Also Check: 10 Hong Kong players can deliver a performance in Asia Cup history
