Afghanistan vs Hong Kong: Players to watch

A significant mismatch will kick-start the Asia Cup T20 as Afghanistan will face Hong Kong at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

The Daily Star looks at one player from each side who could shape the course of the contest.

For Afghanistan, young left-arm wrist-spinner Noor Ahmed is tipped to be a key weapon in a formidable spin attack, while for Hong Kong, experienced opener Anshuman Rath remains central to their hopes of pulling off an upset.

Noor Ahmed:

Noor has quickly emerged as one of the brightest young spin talents in world cricket. The 20-year-old left-arm wrist-spinner has honed the rare skill of turning the ball both ways with control, making him a constant threat in any phase of the game. Noor is part of arguably the most intimidating spin unit in world cricket right now alongside Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and youngster AM Ghazanfar.

Noor comes into the Asia Cup on the back of a stellar campaign in the IPL 2025, where he finished as the second-highest wicket-taker, claiming 24 wickets in 14 games at a miserly economy rate. Only India's Prasidh Krishna (25 wickets) managed more across the season. 

More recently, Noor carried his form into the UAE Tri-series T20 earlier this month, where he bagged five wickets at an economy of just five runs per over in three matches, guiding Afghanistan to the final. Although his side fell short against Pakistan, Noor's performances underlined his status as a genuine difference-maker in tandem with his spin partners. If he continues in this vein, Afghanistan not only stand a chance of progressing deep in the tournament but could also finally land the silverware they have been chasing.

Anshuman Rath:

Meanwhile, Hong Kong's hopes hinge heavily on their left-handed opener Anshuman Rath. The 27-year-old is already the side's third-highest run-getter in T20Is, with 1,824 runs at a strike-rate of 121.76 from 68 matches, and has been in sparkling form in 2025.

Rath has racked up five half-centuries and a century in just 16 T20Is this year, averaging just under 50 -- numbers that highlight both his consistency and match-winning potential. His standout innings came against Singapore, when he bludgeoned an unbeaten 59-ball 100 in a one-sided affair. Notably, in five of the six games this year where Rath has crossed fifty, Hong Kong have gone on to win. 

Alongside fellow opener Zeeshan Ali, Rath has given Hong Kong reliable starts at the top of the order but facing Afghanistan's four-pronged spin attack in Abu Dhabi will be his sternest test yet. For Hong Kong to have any chance of an upset, Rath will likely need to set the tone with another commanding knock.