Afghanistan vs. Hong Kong Launch Asia Cup: Key Players, Time, and How to Watch Live

Afghanistan are set to begin their Asia Cup campaign against Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, entering as dark horse contenders following their impressive T20 World Cup semi-final appearance last year. The team has shown significant growth in white-ball cricket with victories over major cricket nations including England, Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and South Africa.Since the T20 World Cup, Afghanistan have participated in eight T20 internationals, securing five wins and three losses. They claimed a bilateral series victory against Zimbabwe away from home in December with a 2-1 margin but faced defeat in their recent tri-nation series final against Pakistan in the UAE.The team's bowling department presents a strong advantage with their formidable spin attack led by captain Rashid Khan. The spin contingent includes 19-year-old right-arm spinner Allah Ghazanfar, young left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmed, and experienced 40-year-old right-arm spinner Mohammed Nabi.Rashid Khan has maintained solid form in T20 internationals leading up to the Asia Cup, claiming nine wickets in four matches at an average of 12.77 and an economy rate of 7.18. In T20 cricket this year, he has taken 47 wickets in 40 matches, though his average has increased to over 24 with an economy rate of 8.The team's recent experience in UAE conditions through the tri-nation series in Sharjah could prove beneficial, despite the venues being different from the Asia Cup locations of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The spin-friendly conditions in Sharjah, evidenced by spinners dominating the wicket-takers list, might be replicated in the Asia Cup venues.Ibrahim Zadran has emerged as a batting positive for the team, scoring 194 runs in five T20Is since last year at an average of 38.80 and a strike rate of 132.87, including two half-centuries with a top score of 65.However, Afghanistan face challenges with their batting. Key batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who was the top run-scorer in the T20 World Cup with 281 runs, has struggled recently, managing only 104 runs in eight appearances at an average of 15.50.The team's collective batting statistics show concerning trends. Their batting average of 20.96 ranks third-lowest in the tournament, while their strike rate of 117.07 is the second-lowest among all participants. Afghanistan's batters have recorded only six fifty-plus scores in 66 innings since the T20 World Cup 2024, the lowest among all participating teams.Limited match practice is another concern for Afghanistan, having played only eight T20Is before the Asia Cup. This is significantly less than other participating nations, including non-Test playing countries like Oman (15 matches), Hong Kong (27 matches), and UAE (29 matches).Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Asia Cup matchDate: September 9Time: 8pm IST/6:30pm local timeTV channel: Sony Sports NetworkLive Streaming: SonyLivAfghanistan Asia Cup squad: Rashid Khan (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mohammad Ishaq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Allah Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Farid Malik, Naveen-ul-Haq, and Fazalhaq Farooqi.Hong Kong Asia Cup Squad: Zeeshan Ali(w), Babar Hayat, Nizakat Khan, Anshuman Rath, Martin Coetzee, Yasim Murtaza(c), Aizaz Khan, Nasrulla Rana, Ehsan Khan, Ali Hassan, Ateeq Iqbal, Kalhan Challu, Ayush Shukla, Kinchit Shah, Mohammad Waheed, Shahid Wasif, Mohammad Ghazanfar