AFG vs HK, Asia Cup 2025, 1st T20I: Weather & Pitch Report

Afghanistan (AFG) take on Hong Kong (HK) in the opening Group B clash of the Asia Cup 2025 at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, September 9. Rashid Khan’s side enters as clear favourites, but Hong Kong will look to put up a fight in their continental debut of the tournament. Here’s everything fans need to know about weather conditions, pitch behavior, and predicted playing XIs.

Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Weather Report

According to AccuWeather, Abu Dhabi will remain hot and humid for the match, with the temperature around 36°C at 8:00 PM IST. The skies are expected to be partly cloudy, with no chance of rain disrupting play. Dew is unlikely to have a major impact in the early stages of the match, meaning bowlers won’t face slippery conditions initially. Fans can expect classic UAE night-time cricket conditions — high humidity, but plenty of sunshine giving way to cooler evening temperatures.

Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Pitch Report

The Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch promises a fair contest for batters and bowlers.

Batting: The surface offers good carry, although the slow outfield and long boundaries can make clearing the ropes a challenge. Batters who rotate strike and pick gaps smartly are likely to thrive.
Bowling: Seamers can exploit early movement, while spinners, especially Afghanistan’s frontline trio of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, and Noor Ahmad, may find helpful turn in the middle overs.
Toss Factor: Based on recent T20I games at the venue, batting first could be slightly advantageous. However, chasing sides can use the dew factor later in the evening to their advantage.

The pitch at Abu Dhabi has historically produced competitive games, with teams chasing winning slightly less than batting first in T20Is here.

AFG vs HK Live Score

Predicted Playing XIs

Afghanistan (AFG)

Rashid Khan (c)
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)
Ibrahim Zadran
Sediqullah Atal
Darwish Rasooli
Karim Janat
Azmatullah Omarzai
Mohammad Nabi
AM Ghazanfar
Noor Ahmad
Fazalhaq Farooqi

Hong Kong (HK)

Yasim Murtaza (c)
Anshuman Rath
Martin Coetzee
Kinchit Shah
Shahid Wasif
Zeeshan Ali (wk)
Aizaz Khan
Nizakat Khan
Ateeq Iqbal
Ali Hassan
Ehsan Khan

Afghanistan boasts a balanced squad, blending explosive batting at the top, world-class spin options, and variety in pace bowling. Hong Kong will rely heavily on Babar Hayat and Anshuman Rath to anchor their innings, while their seamers and spinners will aim to contain Afghanistan’s aggressive lineup.

Key Stats at Sheikh Zayed Stadium

T20I Matches Played: 90
Batting Second Wins: 49
Batting First Wins: 41
Average 1st Innings Score: 136
Average 2nd Innings Score: 123
Highest Total: 225/7 by Ireland vs Afghanistan
Lowest Total: 54 all out by USA Women vs Thailand Women
Top Batters: Shaiman Anwar (340 runs), Paul Stirling (314 runs), Karim Janat (154.10 strike rate)
Top Bowlers: Bilal Khan (19 wickets, 14.58 avg), Rashid Khan (16 wickets, 6.02 economy), Mark Adair (15 wickets)

What to Expect

Afghanistan enter the Asia Cup 2025 as one of the tournament favourites, while Hong Kong will aim to make a statement in their opener. With a spin-friendly track, the contest is likely to see Rashid Khan and Mujeeb ur Rahman play a pivotal role, while the chasing team can benefit from dew later in the evening.

Expect an exciting battle of spin vs resilience, with early momentum likely to set the tone for Group B’s Super Four race.