By Anas Ahmed 
Omarzai Lights Up the Desert
Even in the punishing 41°C Sharjah heat, it was Azmatullah Omarzai’s firepower that burned brightest. The Afghan allrounder produced a breathtaking knock, smashing Afghanistan’s fastest T20I fifty, off just 20 balls, to propel his side to a crushing 94-run victory over Hong Kong.
His innings of 53 runs at a strike rate of 252.38 showcased his growing reputation as one of Afghanistan’s most destructive middle-order batters. With blistering sixes and deft innovation, Omarzai transformed what looked like a par total into a match-winning score.
Afghanistan Build, Then Explode
Afghanistan were 119 for 4 at the end of 16 overs and the game seemed evenly poised. That was until Atal (73)* and Omarzai turned on the afterburners. They took apart Ayush Shukla and Ateeq Iqbal, hammering 69 runs in the final four overs.
Atal anchored one end with maturity, while Omarzai unleashed every stroke in the book—from clearing the front leg for booming sixes to cheeky ramps over the keeper. The late acceleration lifted Afghanistan to 188 for 6, a score far beyond Hong Kong’s reach.
Hong Kong Outclassed
In reply, Hong Kong stumbled to 94 for 9, undone by Afghanistan’s relentless bowling. Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s sharp glovework and precise bowling changes reflected the gulf between the two sides. Gulbadin Naib (2/8) and Fazalhaq Farooqi (2/16) applied the chokehold, never allowing Hong Kong to recover.
Hong Kong’s only real resistance came from Babar Hayat, who struck 39, but his dismissal sealed the contest. Dropped catches and two careless run-outs compounded their misery in a one-sided affair.
Omarzai Joins Afghanistan’s Roll of Records
This fifty wasn’t just quick—it was historic. Omarzai etched his name into Afghan cricket folklore by recording the fastest T20I fifty for the nation. His ability to shift gears on difficult batting pitches highlights his growing importance ahead of the Asia Cup and World Cup qualifiers.
The innings also underlined Afghanistan’s strength in depth, with Atal’s unbeaten knock giving stability and Omarzai’s fireworks providing the killer punch.
Zainab Shafiq