Today’s must watch in Asia Cup 2025: Afg Vs HK and Pakistan’s Babar Hayat

WEB DESK: As the Asia Cup 2025 gets underway, today’s headlines are the clash between Afghanistan and Hong Kong. While Afg Vs HK match may not carry the star power of some of the other fixtures in the tournament, it holds significant intrigue, especially for Afghanistan. For our cricket fans, Pakistan’s Babar Hayat in HK team has an added layer of interest.

Also read: Pakistan lock eyes on Asia Cup after tri-series triumph

This game features two sides with contrasting circumstances. The tournament journey for Hong Kong looks all the more daunting as they are drawn into a group with three heavyweights: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan. Despite a series of warm-up matches in the UAE, including games against Oman and local club teams, they will face a monumental challenge. In stark contrast, Afghanistan arrive as one of the tournament’s top contenders, but recent performances, especially in the tri-series final loss to Pakistan, have left their form open to question.

For Hong Kong, a match against Afghanistan just days after a morale-sapping defeat could be an opportunity to capitalise on any emotional fatigue. But, as most cricket gurus will tell you, realistically the odds are against them!

Afghanistan’s depth, talent, and experience make them formidable opponents, and while the match format might offer Hong Kong a sliver of hope, a victory here would surely go down as one of the biggest upsets in Asia Cup history.

Let’s go over some players now. When it comes to Afghanistan, the spotlight has typically been on their bowlers, with the likes of Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad lighting up the field. However, it’s Afghanistan’s explosive opener, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who stands out as the team’s biggest batting star. Yet, Gurbaz comes into this game under a cloud, having struggled during the recently concluded tri-series, managing just 98 runs across five innings.

For Afghanistan to go deep into the tournament, they will need a rejuvenated Gurbaz, and the match against Hong Kong provides a perfect stage for him to rediscover his devastating touch.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s Anshuman Rath has been in superb form this year, providing his team with a solid foundation at the top. The left-hander has racked up over 500 T20I runs in 2025, including a century against Singapore. He’s ably supported by Zeeshan Ali, who is another key contributor to Hong Kong’s top-order. The pair, with strike rates well into the 140s, will look to give Hong Kong a flying start, but they’ll need to overcome a world-class bowling attack led by Rashid Khan and company.

Now Hong Kong gas a Babar (not much unlike Pakistan’s own Babar, once upon a time) who ranks among the top five of the Asia Cup T20I scores. HK’s Babar Hayat hit 122 runs off just 60 balls against Oman in Fatullah in 2016. His attacking knock, with nine fours and seven sixes, saw him hit one of the finest innings seen in the Asia Cup T20 format.

Also read: Pakistan and India could meet thrice in Asia Cup 2025

Afghanistan’s squad is likely to remain unchanged from the team that lost to Pakistan in the tri-series final, with Noor Ahmad continuing as the extra spinner alongside Rashid Khan. Hong Kong, on the other hand, will go in with a lineup that blends experience and youthful promise, as they aim to put their best foot forward in this daunting fixture.

Will Hong Kong defy the odds and cause a massive upset, or will Afghanistan bounce back from their recent loss to stake their claim for the title? Let’s see…