Afghanistan started their 2025 Asia Cup with a comprehensive 95-run win against Hong Kong. Reflecting on that, Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan lauded his team's spinners, admitting it was a tough job to bench anyone of them. He even admitted that Rashid himself forgot to bowl his two overs even though he completed his quota later. Speaking after the match Rashid said, "That is a very tough task, (selecting) the playing eleven (as well). To keep Mujeeb out is a tough decision, then Noor as well (was left out) in some games. I forgot to bowl my two overs (tonight at first)." He added, "You have to see who is more successful against a particular batter (and then see). Good thing is that I have options and that makes the job easier." Read also: CPL players robbed at gunpoint in Barbados, gun seized Tough batting at lower order: Omarzai Afghanistan won the toss and decided to bat first. However, Hong Kong bagged two early wickets when Afghanistan was at just 26. In such trouble rose Azmatullah Omarzai. The team's opener, Sediqullah Atal, stood not out at 73 from 52. Azmatullah Omarzai quickfired 53 runs off 21 balls hitting five sixes and two fours. Apart from these two, Mohammed Nabi played a decent 33-run innings that took Afghanistan to 188 runs, losing 6 wickets. Omarzai was later awarded as the player of the series. Speaking on batting down the order, Omarzai said, "Very tough batting in the lower order. It is all about belief. The captain and coach have belief in me. Was trying to hit it straight. We lost early wickets. I was speaking to Atal that we will go for boundaries after the 16th over. When I get the ball, I feel I am a proper bowler. When I get to bat, I feel I am a proper batter." Read also: Watch: Suryakumar Yadav Warns Pakistan Ahead of Asia Cup 2025 Clash Wanted to put pressure on Hong Kong; Rashid Khan Rashid Khan even lauded Azmatullah for rescuing the team from crisis. However, Rashid acknowledged team's present weakness at the top. Rashid said, "It was a great game. Good to put the total on the board. But losing wickets early on is the key for us. We had the same issue in the last series (against Pakistan). That's one area we have to look into. Upcoming games are very important and that is an area if we can make it better… Batting in the death overs was a great effort, especially Omarzai. Overall, it was a great performance." Reflecting on the toss decision, Rashid said that he wanted to put Hong Kong under pressure with his spinners. He explained, "We have good spinners. It puts pressure on the opposition. If you have runs on the board… with batters trying to take risks, that is where you are more effective (as spinners), and that is why we are defending better than chasing. But in T20, we have to chase also, so the mentality has to be to chase as well and have a good record." Hong Kong was restricted to 94 runs, losing 9 wickets. Babar Hayat was the highest scorer of the team, scoring 39 runs. For Afghanistan Fazalhaq Farooqi and Gulbadin Naib took two wickets each. Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad ended with apiece each.