Asia Cup 2025: Can Hong Kong Repeat Its 10-Year-Old Trick Against Afghanistan?

The Asia Cup 2025 will kick off with a clash between Afghanistan and Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi. Surprisingly, Hong Kong holds a 100 percent win record against Afghanistan at this venue in T20Is. While this statistic may raise eyebrows, it is indeed true—and Hong Kong may once again look to repeat a decade-old formula to stun Afghanistan.

Hong Kong’s 100% Record in Abu Dhabi

The encounter is scheduled for 8 PM IST. Abu Dhabi has traditionally been a stronghold for Afghanistan, where it has registered 11 wins and 5 losses in T20 internationals. Interestingly, one of those five defeats came against Hong Kong in 2015. That was the only T20I played between the two sides in Abu Dhabi, where Hong Kong emerged victorious by 4 wickets.

The 2015 “Trick” That Won Hong Kong the Match

So, what exactly was the strategy that gave Hong Kong success a decade ago? In that match, Afghanistan posted 162/6 in 20 overs, but three of those wickets fell via run-outs—thanks to Hong Kong’s sharp fielding. Later, Hong Kong’s batting unit successfully chased down the target of 163 runs with two balls to spare.
It was this combination of aggressive fielding and disciplined batting that handed Hong Kong its only win over Afghanistan. The team could now attempt to rely on a similar approach in the opening match of the Asia Cup 2025.

Hong Kong’s Asia Cup Struggles

Despite that memorable win, Hong Kong’s overall record in the Asia Cup paints a different picture. Since their debut in the tournament, they have played 11 matches in 21 years but haven’t secured a single victory. The big question is: will history repeat itself in Abu Dhabi, or will Afghanistan overturn the script this time?