Thank you for tuning in to the live coverage of the Afghanistan vs Hong Kong clash. The Asia Cup 2025 is up and running, and a big win for one of the dark horses of the tournament. Afghanistan will have bigger tests coming up, but they can be proud of the way they bounced back today after a difficult start.

Join us tomorrow on NDTV Sports as Suryakumar Yadav-led India begin their campaign against UAE. Until then, goodbye!

What a game for Azmatullah Omarzai. Not only did he smash a 20-ball half-century -- the fastest 50 by an Afghanistan batter in T20Is -- but also took a wicket and inflicted a run-out. One of the star all-rounders in the Asia Cup 2025.

Afghanistan beat Hong Kong by 94 runs! A comprehensive bowling performance, to cap off a superb batting charge. Sediqullah Atal and Azmatullah Omarzai stand out with the bat, and an all-round classy bowling show.

For Hong Kong, a heavy defeat to start, but some positives to take.

HKG 94/9 (20 overs)

Fazalhaq Farooqi strikes! Second wicket of the match for the pacer, who has come back to bowl the last over of the innings. Soft dismissal, caught and bowled. Chipped back by Ehsan Khan towards Farooqi, who takes a sharp low catch.

HKG 93/9 (19.2)

GONE! Gulbadin Naib will get his second wicket of the match. Yasim Murtaza went too early with his shot, the slower ball catches him on the body in front of the stumps. Umpire gives out. Murtaza goes for a DRS review, but hawkeye shows three reds.

HKG 91/8 (18.4)

Hong Kong captain Yasim Murtaza may have come out to bat at No. 8, but he's in the double digits now. Comes down the track and smashes Noor through extra cover for a boundary. These late runs could make the difference in NRR when it comes to qualification!

HKG 89/7 (18)

Rashid Khan gets a wicket at last! Aizaz Khan goes for a big slog, doesn't get the time. The ball goes high up in the air but Mohammad Nabi keeps his composure and takes an excellent catch at long-on. Seventh wicket down.

HKG 78/7 (16.2)

Dropped again! Hit hard by Hong Kong captain Yasim Murtaza, it was travelling firmly towards substitute fielder Ashraf at short cover. He cannot hold on, tough chance. Noor Ahmad is denied a second wicket.

HKG 75/6 (15.3)

No risks being taken by Hong Kong. They need 116 runs in the last 5 overs -- a required run-rate of over 23. Rashid Khan bowls out a third over, still no wickets for him. Will Hong Kong be able to bat out the entire innings?

HKG 73/6 (15)

OUT! Babar Hayat's innings comes to an end. Short ball from Gulbadin Naib, not great timing from Hayat, and he finds the fielder at deep mid-wicket. Surely the last hope for Hong Kong is gone now. 

HKG 63/6 (12.5)

Babar Hayat gets another maximum! Short-ish from Janat, Hayat was ready for it, slaps it over long-on once again for 6 more. Expensive over from Janat, 16 off it. Best over of the innings for Hong Kong. Hayat on 38 now, and will be wanting that fifty.

HKG 60/5 (12)

SIX! Hammered over long-on by Babar Hayat. Second maximum for Hayat, and the longest one of the match. That went 93 metres! 50 for Hong Kong also comes up with that hit. The required run-rate is above 16, though.

HKG 50/5 (11.2)

End of a difficult 10 overs for Hong Kong. 189 was never going to be a simple chase, but they've been comfortably second best. Afghanistan may have dropped a couple of catches too, but they've also been alert and inflicted two run outs. Babar Hayat (22 off 34) remains the only remaining hope.

HKG 43/5 (10)

What a catch! Karim Janat with an excellent running catch at deep square-leg, and Kinchit Shah departs. Hong Kong lose their fifth wicket, Rashid Khan gets his first. Janat dropped an easier one earlier, but now shows his class.

HKG 43/5 (9.5)

Big shot! Babar Hayat goes after Rashid Khan, comes down the track and slams it over long-on for a maximum. Hayat was batting at a strike-rate of under 50 before that shot. Finally loosens himself. Tries to do the same two balls later, gets an inside edge this time, picks up a single.

HKG 38/4 (8.4)

Noor Ahmad enters the attack, and is as economical as ever. Gives away just two singles in his first over. The man who took 24 wickets in IPL 2025, playing for Chennai Super Kings, will be eyeing a couple of scalps today too. Required rate for Hong Kong already above 13.

HKG 30/4 (8)

Appeal for caught behind as Kinchit Shah goes for a scoop. Umpire says not out, Rashid takes a DRS review. Replays show that the ball didn't hit the bat, instead coming off the pad. The third umpire checks for LBW as well, but it is not out there too.

HKG 28/4 (7)

6 overs, 23 runs scored, 4 wickets lost. Could've been more had Afghanistan held on to their catches. Hong Kong are almost certainly down and out of this contest. Ghazanfar gives away just 1 run in his over, and now Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad will come in to bowl!

HKG 23/4 (6)

Azmatullah Omarzai, take a bow! Sensational stuff. Kalhan Challu hits it straight, Azmat is quick to react off his own bowling, spots Challu out of his crease and throws it right back towards the stumps at the striker's end. Direct hit, and Challu is short!

HKG 22/4 (4.3)

What is going on? Another catch goes down! Karim Janat the culprit. Right after one was dropped on the last ball of the previous over, another has now been dropped at deep third-man. Afghanistan's fielding hasn't been anything to smile about either.

HKG 20/3 (4.1)

Now a fielding error by Afghanistan! Mistimed by Kalhan Challu, it goes up in the air near the bowler's end. Two fielders running at it, big miscommunication, and the ball ends up in the hands of neither man. Rashid Khan signals them to call, clearly displeased.

HKG 19/3 (4)

Another one bites the dust! Run out this time! Nizakat Khan has to walk back to the dugout without facing a single ball. Direct hit at the bowler's end, and Nizakat falls short. Complete disaster for Hong Kong. 

HKG 13/3 (2.2)

OUT! Azmatullah Omarzai, after his heroics with the bat, now gets a wicket in his first over. Poor shot by Zeeshan Ali, no timing, and taken at mid-on by Nabi. Just 1 run and a wicket as well in that over.

HKG 12/2 (2)

Poor delivery from Farooqi. A lot of swing as it swerves away from the batter, away from keeper Gurbaz and goes away for 4 more behind the stumps. Next ball, beautifully hit down the ground by Zeeshan Ali for 4! 

11 runs off the first over, but a big wicket lost.

HKG 11/1 (1)

Fazalhaq Farooqi strikes second ball! Edge by left-handed batter Anshuman Rath and taken by Gurbaz behind the stumps. Golden duck for the Hong Kong opener. Worst-possible start for them. Afghanistan celebrate.

HKG 1/1 (0.2)

Hong Kong's run chase is underway. The minnows, ranked 24th in the ICC T20I rankings, need a historic effort to chase down 189. Zeeshan Ali and Anshuman Rath opening the batting, Fazalhaq Farooqi takes the new ball for Afghanistan.

HKG 1/0 (0.1)

Meanwhile, the internet was set on fire as India captain Suryakumar Yadav's hand shake with PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi went viral on social media. Take a look: READ HERE

188! A very, very good total for Afghanistan in the end, considering all the trouble they went through in the first half of the innings. A patient, unbeaten 73 by Sediqullah and a whirlwind 21-ball 53 by Omarzai have taken them to a big score.

AFG 188/6 (20 overs)

Hong Kong Target: 189

A sixth wicket goes for Afghanistan. Karim Janat has no intention but to swing in the final over of the innings. Doesn't quite connect. Good catch taken at long-on. Wicket for Ehsan Khan. Afghanistan's total already above 180.

AFG 184/6 (19.4)

Finally, another catch is grasped by Hong Kong. They've had to pay a huge price today for their fielding errors, but this time they hold on. End of a sensational blitz from Omarzai. He departs for 53 off just 21 balls. Two 4s and five 6s in that knock.

AFG 177/5 (18.5)

INCREDIBLE HITTING! Azmatullah Omarzai, who plays for Punjab Kings in the IPL, has smoked it in Abu Dhabi. Three sixes - one straight, one over extra-cover, one over mid-wicket - and then a boundary through third-man. He brings up his half-century in just 21 balls. Wow.

AFG 177/4 (18.4)

Another one put down! This time Omarzai gets a lifeline. Catch dropped at long-off, fielder rushing in but can't hold on. It goes from bad to worse for Hong Kong as Omarzai smashes a six over mid-wicket next ball! 150 up for Afghanistan.

AFG 155/4 (18)

Sediqullah Atal has gone absolutely berserk here. Two sixes and now another boundary in the same over. Dropped twice - on 4 and 51 - and he's now moved up to his highest score in T20I cricket. Hong Kong losing all momentum here.

AFG 144/4 (17)

Drop him twice, and he will surely make you pay! Sediqullah Atal goes big, over square-leg, and slams his second 6 of the innings. Two balls later, over mid-wicket for another maximum! How badly will Hong Kong rue the two drops?

AFG 136/4 (16.4)

Dreadful mistake! Sediqullah Atal has been dropped AGAIN. The left-hander tries a reverse-sweep, doesn't get the connection, but he is put down at short third-man. A huge blunder. A second lifeline for Sediqullah.

AFG 119/4 (16)

Huge 6! Azmatullah Omarzai shows his class! He's taken a few balls to settle in, but now unleashes his first big shot of the innings. Slog sweep, over mid-wicket, and it goes a long, long way. Great shot.

AFG 118/4 (15.3)

Half-century for Sediqullah Atal! It has been almost a lone warrior knock from the 24-year-old left-hander, who has made Hong Kong pay for dropping him in the first over of the match. 50 in 41 balls for him, with five 4s and a 6. 

AFG 110/4 (15)

100 up for Afghanistan! It has taken them a fair bit of trouble to get here, and they have done so at a run-rate of just over 7, against a side that is ranked 15 places below them in the ICC T20I team rankings. Atal nearing his 50, batting on 46.

AFG 101/4 (14)

Another wicket for Hong Kong! They keep striking at regular intervals. Gulbadin Naib with a poor choice of shot, tries to go big, but does not connect. The ball goes high in the air, and this time, captain Yasim Murtaza grabs it. 

AFG 95/4 (13)

Sediqullah Atal goes big! That's a handsome shot against the spinner Kinchit Shah. Hit very well, clears mid-wicket and goes for 6. Sediqullah moves into the 40s, and will be eyeing up a half-century now.

AFG 94/3 (12.4)

OUT! Mohammad Nabi perishes. The veteran tries to go big on the first ball after the 10th over, but gets no timing on it. Simple catch taken at long-off, and Hong Kong continue to surprise the more established Afghan side.

AFG 77/3 (10.1)

From 26/2 to 77/2 -- Sediqullah Atal and Mohammad Nabi have carried out a good rebuild. They've stitched a partnership of 51 runs, and taken the run-rate to nearly 8 per over. Afghanistan will be targetting at least 160 from here.

AFG 77/2 (10)

Close call, but Sediqullah survives! The two batters tried a quick single, but there was a bit of worry there. Both batters now into the 30s, as the 50-run partnership comes up between Atal and Nabi.

AFG 77/2 (10)

Mohammad Nabi is really getting into his groove here. Beautifully timed through the third-man region. Third 4 of the innings for Nabi, and Afghanistan now scoring at 8 runs per over now. Sediqullah and Nabi have done a good recovery job.

AFG 72/2 (9)

Great shot from Mohammad Nabi again! Opens the face of the bat and hammers it through the covers. Nabi took his time to get settled, but has now accelerated and taken his score to more than a run-a-ball.

AFG 66/2 (8.2)

Mohammad Nabi made a slow start to proceedings, but he's now turning on the heat! Gives himself room, slams a boundary through extra-cover. Next ball, connects  beautifully and helps it over long-off for a maximum! 50 up for Afghanistan. 15 off the over.

AFG 56/2 (7)

End of the powerplay in the Afghanistan innings. Hong Kong will be really happy with their effort. Yes, they dropped a sitter. But they've taken two huge wickets and kept Afghanistan's run-rate under 7. Can they build on from this positive start?

AFG 41/2 (6)

Still a lot of batting quality in the Afghanistan lineup. Sediqullah Atal is looking good. He is into the 20s, having hit 5 boundaries. Remember, he was dropped in the very first over. 40-year-old Mohammad Nabi promoted up the order to stabilize the ship.

AFG 37/2 (5)

Incredible! Ateeq Iqbal traps Ibrahim Zadran on the pads, and Afghanistan have lost two wickets in the space of six balls. Zadran, who has been in such good form, is dismissed for just 1. Hong Kong are on top here!

AFG 26/2 (3.1)

GONE! Massive wicket for Hong Kong. Rahmanullah Gurbaz smashes a six on the first ball of the over. He then tries to go big again, gets no timing, and finds the fielder tracking back from mid-off. Good catch this time. 

AFG 25/1 (2.2)

Sediqullah Atal seems to be hell-bent on making Hong Kong pay for their blunder. Smashes a boundary through the covers now -- his fourth boundary of the innings already. Now, can the out-of-form Gurbaz find his touch?

AFG 19/0 (2)

DROPPED! Oh dear, oh dear. It is Hong Kong's captain Yasim Murtaza who has put down a complete sitter on the fourth ball of the first over. Thick edge off Atal's bat, but Murtaza drops it in the slip cordon. Huge escape for Sediqullah Atal, who makes Hong Kong pay with two fours in a row.

AFG 12/0 (1)

We are LIVE! Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sediqullah Atal are at the crease. Ayush Shukla is opening the bowling for Hong Kong. And the first ball is whipped away for 4 through the fine-leg region by Atal!

AFG 4/0 (0.1)

Here's Hong Kong's XI vs Afghanistan: Zeeshan Ali (wk), Babar Hayat, Anshuman Rath, Kalhan Challu, Nizakat Khan, Aizaz Khan, Kinchit Shah, Yasim Murtaza (c), Ayush Shukla, Ateeq Iqbal, Ehsan Khan

Afghanistan were thoroughly beaten by Pakistan in the final of their recently-concluded tri-series (which also featured UAE). Rashid Khan's men were bowled out for 66, suffering a 75-run loss. Can they bounce back?

Yasim Murtaza, Hong Kong captain: "We wanted to bowl first. IWe worked hard to get here. We played good cricket in the qualifiers. As a captain I am looking forward to see how Kalhan Challu will do on the big stage."

Rashid Khan, Afghanistan captain: "We would like to bat first. It looks like a good wicket to put runs on the board, good total on the board will help the bowlers. In T20 it does not matter if you win the toss or not, but you have to give yourself the best opportunity to pick wickets in the middle period."

Here's Afghanistan's playing XI vs Hong Kong: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (c), Noor Ahmad, AM Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Afghanistan have won the toss and opted to bat! Interesting choice by Rashid Khan. This means we'll see the full power of the Afghan batting lineup first. The likes of Gurbaz, Zadran, Sediqullah. Hong Kong have the tough task of bowling first!

We are just 5 minutes away from toss time for the first match of the Asia Cup 2025. Afghanistan will be led by talismanic spinner Rashid Khan, while Pakistan-born all-rounder Yasim Murtaza is the captain of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong are ranked 24th in the men's ICC T20I team rankings, and are the underdogs in Group B, which also features Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Remember, only the top two qualify to the Super Four. Can Hong Kong pull off an upset?

Led by Rashid Khan, the rise of Afghanistan in world cricket is undeniable, particularly in the T20I format. With a number of stars like Mohammad Nabi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai and Noor Ahmad, they will be aiming for the final. 

With three 4th-place finishes in the Asia Cup to date, expectations will be high on them to reach the final.

A very warm welcome to one and all, to the live coverage of the first match of the Asia Cup 2025. It is Afghanistan taking on Hong Kong in the clash, which is being played in Abu Dhabi. Stay tuned to NDTV Sports for all the live updates from the match.