Asia Cup 2025: Omarzai Smashes Record 20-Ball Fifty as Afghanistan Dominates Hong Kong

All-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai and opener Sediqullah Atal began their Asia Cup 2025 campaign on a bright note, starring in Afghanistan's dominant display against Hong Kong in their Group B match in Abu Dhabi. While Sediqullah registered his highest T20I score with a composed 52-ball 73, Omarzai lit up the evening with a blistering 20-ball half-century.

Afghanistan, widely regarded as dark horses in the tournament, did not enjoy the best of starts, losing two wickets in the powerplay and benefitting from some wayward fielding by Hong Kong. Sediqullah, in particular, had fortune on his side, being dropped as many as four times, including once in just the second over after Afghanistan had won the toss and opted to bat.

The left-hander capitalised on his reprieves, building a steady partnership with senior campaigner Mohammad Nabi, who came in at No. 4. But it was Omarzai who truly injected momentum into the innings, hammering five sixes and two boundaries in his explosive 21-ball knock.

Asia Cup 2025: Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Highlights

In the process, Omarzai broke the record for the fastest fifty by an Afghanistan batter in men’s T20Is, surpassing the previous mark by a single delivery.

FASTEST FIFTIES FOR AFGHANISTAN IN T20Is

1. 20 balls – Azmatullah Omarzai v Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi, 2025
2. 21 balls – Mohammad Nabi v Ireland, Greater Noida, 2017
3. 21 balls – Gulbadin Naib v India, Bengaluru, 2024

Afghanistan were 119 for 4 at the end of the 16th over when Omarzai shifted gears decisively. He tore into medium pacer Ateeq Iqbal in the 17th over, smashing two sixes and a four to collect 25 runs from it.

In the 19th over, bowled by fast bowler Ayush Shukla, Omarzai went berserk, striking three consecutive sixes before steering a full toss past the wicketkeeper to reach his milestone in just 20 balls. His improved power-hitting and wide range of strokes left the Hong Kong bowlers shell-shocked.

Omarzai’s fireworks, however, came to an end in the same over when he mistimed a slower delivery, skying it high into the night before being safely caught by Aizaz Khan.

Thanks to the contributions of Sediqullah, Nabi and Omarzai, Afghanistan finished on a commanding 188 for 6 in their 20 overs on a good batting surface. Importantly, they piled on 111 runs in the final 10 overs, effectively batting Hong Kong out of the contest.

In reply, Hong Kong’s innings quickly unravelled. Reduced to 43 for 5 at the halfway stage, their chase never gained momentum. Senior batter Babar Hayat attempted a lone resistance but failed to provide the impetus his side desperately required.

Omarzai, having excelled with the bat, impressed with the ball as well. He struck in his very first over, dismissing wicketkeeper Zeeshan Ali. The Punjab Kings all-rounder capped his outing with miserly figures in his opening spell, conceding only four runs in his first two overs to cap off a memorable all-round performance.