Afghanistan could not have asked for a better start to their Asia Cup 2025 campaign. At the heart of the action was Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) power-hitter Azmatullah Omarzai, who set the stadium on fire with a record-breaking 20-ball half-century, the fastest ever by an Afghan player in T20Is.
His explosive knock helped Afghanistan seal a massive 94-run victory over Hong Kong in their opening Group B clash.
Afghanistan’s Batting: Steady Start, Explosive Finish
Batting first at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Afghanistan posted a commanding 188/6 in 20 overs.
- Sediqullah Atal held the innings together with a composed 73 off 52 balls*.
- Then came Omarzai’s fireworks – 53 runs from just 21 deliveries, including five towering sixes and two fours.
His whirlwind knock not only entertained fans but also shifted the momentum completely in Afghanistan’s favor.
With this, Omarzai broke the joint record of Suryakumar Yadav and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who earlier held Afghanistan’s fastest T20I fifty record in 22 balls.
Afghanistan Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sediqullah Atal | 73* | 52 | 7 | 2 | 140.38 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 53 | 21 | 2 | 5 | 252.38 |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | 20 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 142.85 |
| Najibullah Zadran | 12 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 120.00 |
| Others | 30 | 23 | – | – | – |
| Total | 188/6 | 20 overs |
Hong Kong Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ayush Shukla | 4 | 38 | 2 | 9.50 |
| Aizaz Khan | 4 | 32 | 1 | 8.00 |
| Ehsan Khan | 4 | 29 | 1 | 7.25 |
| Haroon Arshad | 3 | 28 | 1 | 9.33 |
| Kinchit Shah | 2 | 25 | 1 | 12.50 |
Hong Kong’s Chase Goes Nowhere
Chasing 189 was always going to be a tough ask for Hong Kong, and Afghanistan’s bowlers made it nearly impossible.
- Hong Kong could manage only 94/9 in their 20 overs.
- Babar Hayat (39 off 43) tried to steady the innings, but wickets kept tumbling from the other end.
- Afghan bowlers were on point: Gulbadin Naib (2/8) and Fazalhaq Farooqi (2/16) led the charge, with others chipping in.
The gulf between the two sides was evident, and Afghanistan never allowed their opponents to even dream of a chase.
Hong Kong Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babar Hayat | 39 | 43 | 4 | 0 | 90.69 |
| Kinchit Shah | 12 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Zeeshan Ali | 10 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 76.92 |
| Others | 33 | 49 | – | – | – |
| Total | 94/9 | 20 overs |
Afghanistan Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | 4 | 16 | 2 | 4.00 |
| Gulbadin Naib | 3 | 8 | 2 | 2.66 |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | 4 | 20 | 1 | 5.00 |
| Naveen-ul-Haq | 3 | 18 | 1 | 6.00 |
| Rashid Khan | 2 | 12 | 0 | 6.00 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 2 | 10 | 1 | 5.00 |
Rashid Khan’s Funny Confession
After the game, skipper Rashid Khan shared a light moment with reporters.
“I actually forgot to bowl my two overs,” he laughed. “But that shows the strength of our bowling. We had so many options.”
It was a reminder of just how deep Afghanistan’s squad runs – a mix of explosive batting and a versatile bowling attack.
In Shorts:
The Asia Cup 2025 has only just begun, but Afghanistan have already stolen the spotlight. With Omarzai’s record-smashing 20-ball fifty and a ruthless all-round performance, they’ve sent a clear message: Afghanistan are here not just to compete, but to dominate.
Fans will now be eagerly waiting to see if this momentum continues when Afghanistan face tougher opponents in the coming days.
