Asia Cup 2025: Hong Kong and Afghanistan are set to clash in the opening match of the Asia Cup today at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.
Asia Cup 2025 : The competition is being played in the T20 format this year, keeping in mind next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Interestingly, this will be the first T20 meeting between the two sides since 2016. Prior to Afghanistan’s rapid rise in world cricket, the two teams faced each other frequently, but have not crossed paths since then.
So far, Afghanistan and Hong Kong have contested in five T20Is, with Afghanistan winning three and Hong Kong securing two victories. However, Hong Kong’s last win came back in 2015 at the very same Abu Dhabi venue where today’s Asia Cup opener is scheduled.
Their last encounter took place during the 2016 T20 World Cup in Nagpur. Of that Afghanistan squad, only Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, and Rashid Khan remain in the current lineup. Nabi, who starred in that game with 4/20 and a vital 17 runs, was named Player of the Match. Notably, four of the five clashes between the two sides have been won by the team bowling first.
Hong Kong vs Afghanistan T20I Head-to-Head Record (5 matches):
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2016, Nagpur: Afghanistan won by 6 wickets
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2016, Mirpur: Afghanistan won by 66 runs
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2015, Abu Dhabi: Hong Kong won by 4 wickets
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2015, Dublin (Malahide): Hong Kong won by 5 wickets
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2014, Chattogram: Afghanistan won by 7 wickets