Emerging Asia Cup 2025 Match Preview: Afghanistan A vs Hong Kong

Match Details:

• Date: Wednesday, 19th November 2025.
• Venue: West End Park International Cricket Stadium, Doha.
• Start Time: 09:30 AM GMT | 03:00 PM IST | 12:30 PM Local.

Team Form and Momentum

Afghanistan A

Afghanistan A has been in commanding form throughout the Emerging Asia Cup 2025, with their top-order and pace unit firing on all cylinders. Batsmen like Sediqullah Atal and Darwish Rasooli have provided the foundation, while AM Ghazanfar and Bilal Sami have delivered impactful spells with the ball. The team’s disciplined approach and ability to convert starts into big totals have been key to their success.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong, on the other hand, has struggled in the tournament so far, losing both of their matches and failing to find the right balance between batting and bowling. Despite the efforts of Babar Hayat and Yasim Murtaza with the bat, and Ehsan Khan with the ball, the team has found it difficult to post competitive totals or chase them down under pressure.

Key Players to Watch

Afghanistan A

• Sediqullah Atal: The match-defining opener, Atal has been in scintillating form, scoring 62 runs at an average of 31 and a strike rate of 172.2. His ability to dominate the Powerplay and anchor the innings makes him a vital asset.
• AM Ghazanfar: The leading wicket-taker for Afghanistan A in the tournament, Ghazanfar has taken 5 wickets at an average of 8 and an economy rate of 5. His ability to swing the ball and break partnerships will be crucial.
• Bilal Sami: A potent medium-pace option, Sami has picked up 4 wickets at an average of 12.5, while also providing useful runs lower down the order.

Hong Kong

• Babar Hayat: The standout performer with the bat, Hayat has scored 63 runs at an average of 31.5 and a strike rate of 126. His aggressive stroke-play could be the difference in a tight chase.
• Yasim Murtaza: As captain and a key all-rounder, Murtaza has scored 60 runs at an average of 30 and a strike rate of 130.4, while also being a reliable bowler with an economy rate of 8.2.
• Ehsan Khan: A seasoned campaigner, Khan has 132 T20I wickets to his name, with an impressive average of 16.8 and an economy rate of 6.3. His experience could be vital in tight matches.

Head-to-Head (Last 5 Matches)

• Afghanistan A: 0 wins
• Hong Kong: 1 win

While the head-to-head record slightly favors Hong Kong, Afghanistan A has been the stronger team in the current tournament, and their recent form gives them the edge.

Venue Insights: West End Park International Cricket Stadium, Doha

• Average 1st Innings Score (2022–2025): 157.07 (2025 data)
• Wicket Breakdown:
  • Powerplay Overs (16): 1.58 wickets
  • Middle Overs (71.5): 2.47 wickets
  • Death Overs (16.20): 2.49 wickets
• Winning Percentage:
  • Batting First: 46.3%
  • Batting Second: 53.7%

The pitch at Doha has historically favored chasing teams, with spinners thriving in the middle and death overs. The surface is likely to offer good turn and bounce, which could play into the hands of Afghanistan A’s spin-heavy lineup.

Team Squads

Afghanistan A:

• Captain: Darwish Rasooli
• Wicket-keeper: Noor Rahman, Mohammad Ishaq
• Key Batsmen: Sediqullah Atal, Zubaid Akbari, Imran Mir
• Key Bowlers: AM Ghazanfar, Bilal Sami, Qais Ahmad, Abdullah Ahmadzai

Hong Kong:

• Captain: Yasim Murtaza
• Wicket-keeper: Zeeshan Ali
• Key Batsmen: Babar Hayat, Nizakat Khan, Shiv Mathur
• Key Bowlers: Ehsan Khan, Anshuman Rath, Aizaz Khan, Kinchit Shah

Match Predictions

• Toss Winner: Hong Kong
• Match Winner: Afghanistan A
• Top Batsman: Sediqullah Atal (Afghanistan A)
• Top Bowler: AM Ghazanfar (Afghanistan A)
• Most Sixes: Sediqullah Atal (Afghanistan A)
• Player of the Match: Sediqullah Atal
• Team Scores (Batting First):
  • Afghanistan A: 160+
  • Hong Kong: 130+

Expert Insights

• Atal's Winning Runs: Afghanistan A has won 12% of matches when Sediqullah Atal scores more than 50 runs.
• Imran Mir's Boundary Rate: A prolific boundary hitter, Mir averages a boundary rate of 21% in domestic T20s.
• Zadran's Dot Ball Resistance: Rahmanullah Zadran faces only 31% dot balls in 6 domestic innings.
• Ahmadzai's Wicket-taking Ability: Abdullah Ahmadzai takes more than 3 wickets in 43% of their domestic matches.
• Economy Rate Mastery: Ahmadzai maintains an economy below 6.00 in 57% of the innings they bowl in.
• Qais Ahmad's Wicket Specialization: Ahmad takes 72% of his wickets during the middle overs, making him a critical asset in the death phase.

Final Verdict

This match promises to be a tactical battle between a high-octane Afghanistan A side and a resilient Hong Kong outfit. While Hong Kong will look to exploit the pitch's spin-friendly nature, Afghanistan A's all-round strength and recent form make them the slight favorites. Look out for Sediqullah Atal to shine and AM Ghazanfar to deliver a match-winning spell. Afghanistan A should win this encounter if they can maintain their current momentum.

Prediction: Afghanistan A by 10-15 runs.
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