Afghanistan vs Hong Kong, Asia Cup 2025 Highlights: Afghanistan win by 94 runs in tournament opener

Ayush Shukla to Sediqullah Atal, FOUR! Gets it away again! Pulls his length back a bit, but angling down the leg side again. Sediqullah Atal flicks it away with fine timing through short fine leg. The fielder there makes a mess of an easy stop, parries the ball behind, gives chase, and the ball teases him all the way, but just to beat his dive and win the race to the fence. 12 runs off the first over!

Ayush Shukla to Sediqullah Atal, FOUR! Salt to the wounds! Pitched up and on middle, angles in a bit, Sediqullah Atal shows the full face of the bat and just chips it over mid on for another boudnary.

Ayush Shukla to Sediqullah Atal, EDGED BUT DROPPED! A huge chance goes begging here! And it is the skipper himself who has shelled a regulation chance early doors. Ayush Shukla lands this on a good length and on the fifth stump line, straightens a bit after hitting the deck. Sediqullah Atal has a tentative push at it but gets a thick outside edge towards first slip. Yasim Murtaza dives to his right, but does not even manage to get his hands on it as the ball hits his body and spills out. Atal gets a life! Ayush, understandably, is not pleased one bit.

Ayush Shukla to Sediqullah Atal, Touch slower, on a length, shaping in sharply, Sediqullah Atal looks to clip it away but gets a slight inside edge onto his pads as the ball rolls towards the vacant silly mid on region. Atal wants the run but is sent back.

Ayush Shukla to Sediqullah Atal, Much better! Goes fuller and on off, shaping in, Sediqullah Atal looks to drive it away but gets an inside edge towards mid-wicket.

Ayush Shukla to Sediqullah Atal, FOUR! Gets off the mark in fine fashion! Ayush Shukla starts with a back-of-a-length delivery, angling down the leg side. Sediqullah Atal accepts the gift with both hands and helps it on its way past short fine for a boundary.

All set for the curtain raiser of the 17th edition of the Asia Cup to begin. Fair to say, it is very warm out there, with the temperature in the late thirties as we speak. We can see the jerseys flapping so that indicates it is a bit windy as well. The umpires and players have made their way out to the middle. Yasim Murtaza leads his men out as Hong Kong, China's players spread out to the field to take their respective positions. For Afghanistan, it will be the opening pair of Sediqullah Atal and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the same pair that opened for them in the recently concluded tri-series in Sharjah. Ayush Shukla has the new ball and will begin the proceedings. Atal to face. The countdown is done and 'Let's Play' says the umpire.

Just a few minutes away from the action to begin in Abu Dhabi. But before that, both sets of players, followed by the match officials, are lining up for their respective national anthems. It will be Hong Kong, China's first, followed by the national anthem of Afghanistan.

Hong Kong, China (Playing XI) - Zeeshan Ali (WK), Babar Hayat, Anshy Rath, Kalhan Challu, Nizakat Khan, Aizaz Khan, Kinchit Shah, Yasim Murtaza (C), Ayush Shukla, Ateeq Iqbal, Ehsan Khan.

Afghanistan (Playing XI) - Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan (C), Noor Ahmad, AM Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

PITCH REPORT - Bazid Khan is pitchside. He says that there is a lot of grass, but is a mix between live and dead grass. Adds that both spinners and seamers will get help. Russell Arnold joins him and says that batting first is a good option as dew won't be much of a factor here. Ends by saying that 180 was the average first innings score in ILT20, so that should be the target.

The captain of Hong Kong, China, Yasim Murtaza, says that they would have batted first as well, but don't mind bowling first either. Reflects that they had a tough battle against Oman before getting into this competition, but also points out that they played really good cricket. Says he is looking forward to how Kalhan Challu performs. Mentions that he is a very talented player, and as a team, he says they are looking to perform well on a big stage.

The captain of Afghanistan, Rashid Khan, says they will bat first. Adds that it looks like a good wicket and they would like to put a good score on the board. Mentions that they have a good bowling group, but it is not just about the spinners. Says that they have put the Tri-Series final behind them, it was good preparation, and they have had discussions on how to improve on that. Ends by saying that even if they had won the final, they would not change their style of playing.

TOSS UPDATE - The flip of the coin lands in favor of Afghanistan and skipper Rashid Khan elects to BAT first.