The much-anticipated Asia Cup 2025 is set to kick off on Tuesday with the opening match between Afghanistan and Hong Kong at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. The match will mark the beginning of a tournament that will have intense competition among Asia’s top teams over the next three weeks. Both teams will be eager to make a strong statement from the outset.
Toss Prediction – Who Will Win Today’s Toss?
The conditions at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium are expected to favor bowling first due to day-time heat and dew factors later. Afghanistan with their strong spin bowling attack may prefer to bowl. Hong Kong will be aiming to try and restrict Afghanistan’s batting depth.
Our Toss Prediction: Afghanistan likely to win the toss & choose to bowl first
Afghanistan Won The Toss & Chose To Bowl
Toss Record (Afghanistan vs Hong Kong) – Asia Cup 2025
| Match | Date | Venue | Toss Winner | Toss Decision | Match Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Sep 9, 2025 | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi | Afghanistan Probably | Elected to bowl | TBD |
Historical Toss Record (Afghanistan vs Hong Kong)
| Matches Played | Afghanistan Won Toss | Hong Kong Won Toss |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 2 | 3 |
Toss Stats by Captains
Afghanistan Toss Record (Rashid Khan):
| Matches | Tosses Won | Win % |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 67% |
Hong Kong Toss Record (Yasim Murtaza):
| Matches | Tosses Won | Win % |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 67% |
Pitch & Weather Report – Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
The pitch favors spin bowling with some bounce for pace bowlers early on. Daytime temperatures are high with a slight chance of evening dew, often making bowling second tricky.
Head-to-Head Record Afghanistan vs Hong Kong (T20)
| Total Matches | Afghanistan Wins | Hong Kong Wins |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 3 | 2 |
Probable Playing XIs
Afghanistan Playing XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (w), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (c), AM Ghazanfar, Naveen ul Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Hong Kong Playing XI: Kinchit Shah, Anshuman Rath, Zeeshan Ali (w), Yasim Murtaza (c), Aizaz Khan, Babar Hayat, Nizakat Khan, Nasrulla Rana, Mohammad Ghazanfar, Mohammad Waheed, Ayush Shukla.
Match Prediction – Who Will Win Today’s Match?
Afghanistan enter as favorites due to their superior experience and spin bowling strength. Hong Kong, though less experienced, have shown they can compete but face an uphill battle against the strong Afghan lineup.
Win Probability
| Team/Result | Win Chance |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 60% |
| Hong Kong | 35% |
| Draw / No Result | 5% |
Players to Watch
Best Batters:
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran
Hong Kong: Kinchit Shah, Anshuman Rath
Best Bowlers:
Afghanistan: Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi
Hong Kong: Aizaz Khan, Yasim Murtaza
Final Prediction
Toss Winner: Afghanistan (likely)
Match Winner Prediction: Afghanistan to win the match
Afghanistan have the edge owing to their historical dominance and superior bowling attack, especially in conditions that favor spin. The toss winning decision to bowl first will likely help them leverage conditions effectively.
