ASIA CUP 2025
Omarzai smashed a quickfire 53 after the loss of early wickets. © Getty
Afghanistan began their Asia Cup 2025 campaign with a comprehensive win over Hong Kong, powered by Azmatullah Omarzai’s all-round brilliance – 53 off 21 balls and figures of 1 for 4. After the game, Omarzai reflected on the challenges of batting lower down the order, crediting his success to belief.
“Very tough batting in the lower order, all about belief,” Omarzai said. “The captain and coach have belief in me, was trying to back myself and was trying to hit straight with the ball coming on nice.”
Omarzai’s maiden T20I fifty came in just 20 balls, with all five of his sixes sent between extra cover and deep midwicket. Coming in at 95 for 4 in the 13th over, he joined opener Sediqullah Atal (73* off 52) to steady the innings until the 16th. “We lost early wickets, so I was just speaking to Sediqullah that we will bat till the 16th and then look for boundaries. We were looking to hit straight and were looking for our favourite balls.” Their stand set up a late assault that produced 69 runs in the last four overs, including three fours and six sixes.
Asked whether he sees himself as a batting or bowling allrounder, Omarzai was emphatic: “I think I am both. When I get bowling, I feel I am a proper bowler; when I bat, I feel I am a proper batter. It is 50-50.”
Captain Rashid Khan hailed the performance but pointed to concerns over the loss of early wickets. “Good to put a total on the board. In the last series as well, early wickets – that is very key for us and we have to look into it. Upcoming games are very important and that is an area if we can make it better…overall, it was a great performance.”
Rashid also underlined the value of Afghanistan’s three-pronged spin attack when defending totals. “If you have good spinners, it puts extra pressure. If you have runs on the board…with batters trying to take risks, that is where you are more effective, and that is why we are defending better than chasing.”
The numbers back him up. Since January 2024, Afghanistan have won 12 of 16 T20Is when batting first, but only three of 11 when chasing, with one no-result. Rashid acknowledged the need to improve in that area. “In T20, we have to chase also, so the mentality has to be to chase as well and have a good record.”
Notably, 24-year-old Mujeeb Ur Rahman did not feature against Hong Kong, yet Afghanistan still fielded six bowling options. Rashid admitted it makes selection tricky. “That is a very tough ask, (selecting) the playing eleven. To keep Mujeeb out is a tough decision, then Noor as well (was left out) in some games… You have to see who is more successful against a particular batter. Good thing is I have options and that makes the job easier,” he concluded.
© Cricbuzz
