The Asia Cup 2025 got off to a fiery start with Afghanistan's commanding win over Hong Kong in the opening game. While Sediqullah Atal's 73 gave the innings a platform, it was Azmatullah Omarzai's late blitz that completely shifted the momentum.
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Walking in at a tricky stage, Omarzai started hitting in the final overs - taking Afghanistan to 188/6, their highest-ever total in a T20 Asia Cup match. His innings not only sealed a 94-run win but also rewrote the record books.
Azmatullah Omarzai breaks Suryakumar Yadav's Asia Cup record
Omarzai reached his half-century in just 20 balls - surpassing the previous best of 22 balls by India's Suryakumar Yadav against Hong Kong in 2022. He smashed five sixes and two fours with 37 of Afghanistan's 69 runs in the last four overs coming from his bat.
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This effort also gave Omarzai the record for Afghanistan's fastest T20I fifty, overtaking Mohammad Nabi's 21-ball effort against Ireland in 2017.
In India's Super Four clash against Pakistan on September 21, Abhishek Sharma became the second fastest Indian to score a half-century in Asia Cup as he hit his 50 in just 25 balls.
Fastest fifties in T20 Asia Cup history
| Player | Team | Balls | Opposition | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azmatullah Omarzai | AFG | 20 | Hong Kong | 2025 |
| Suryakumar Yadav | IND | 22 | Hong Kong | 2022 |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | AFG | 22 | Sri Lanka | 2022 |
| Abhishek Sharma | IND | 24 | Pakistan | 2025 |
| Babar Hayat | HKG | 24 | Oman | 2016 |
| Adnan Ilyas | OMA | 24 | Afghanistan | 2016 |
| Abhishek Sharma | IND | 25 | Bangladesh | 2025 |
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The massive win has boosted Afghanistan's net run rate to 4.700, which could play a crucial role in Super 4 qualification, with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka also in the group. Omarzai's explosive knock has signalled that Afghanistan are not just here to compete - they are here to dominate.
If this performance is anything to go by, Afghanistan's batting depth could prove decisive as the tournament progresses.