Afghanistan vs Nepal: Asian Games 2026 Cricket Result
Published on September 25, 2026
Summary Overview: Nepal beat Afghanistan by 5 wickets in Asian Games 2026 Group A, bowling them out for 102 as Kushal Bhurtel took 4-21. Rohit Paudel steered the chase home.
Bhurtel's Four-For Fires Nepal Past Afghanistan at the Asian Games
Who won and by how much?
Nepal won by 5 wickets, chasing down a modest target of 103 with more than two overs to spare.
Who was the standout player?
Nepal's Kushal Bhurtel, whose superb spell of 4 for 21 ripped through the Afghanistan middle order and set up the win.
What is the key takeaway?
Nepal's disciplined bowling won them the game. They kept Afghanistan to a very low total, and that made the chase comfortable despite a few wobbles.
Afghanistan Squad
| Category | Members |
| Players | Mohammad Akram, Hassan Eisakhil, Karim Janat, Darwish Rasooli (c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Ishaq (wk), Faisal Shinozada, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Nangeyalia Kharoti, Arab Gul Momand |
| Bench | Ismat Alam, Imran Mir, Farmanullah Safi, Khalid Taniwal |
| Support Staff | Richard Pybus, Hamid Hassan, Andrew Puttick |
Nepal Squad
| Category | Members |
| Players | Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Rohit Paudel, Gulsan Jha, Dipendra Singh Airee (c), Kushal Malla, Lokesh Bam, Sundeep Jora, Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi |
| Bench | Sompal Kami, Sher Malla, Nandan Yadav, Aarif Sheikh |
Match Report: Nepal's Bowlers Do the Job
Nepal made a strong statement in their Asian Games Group A clash, beating Afghanistan by 5 wickets at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan. It was a win built on excellent bowling, as Nepal squeezed the life out of the Afghan innings before knocking off the runs.
A quick reminder for those new to this event: Asian Games cricket is a T20 competition played for medals, and the top two teams from each group advance to the knockout rounds. A result like this is a big boost for Nepal's hopes of reaching the last eight.
Afghanistan Choked by Nepal's Attack
Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bat, but they never got going against a relentless Nepal bowling unit. Left-arm spinner Lalit Rajbanshi struck early with 3 for 13, removing the top order and leaving Afghanistan reeling in the powerplay (the first six overs).
The middle order tried to rebuild through Faisal Shinozada (30) and the experienced Najibullah Zadran (30), but both scored slowly under pressure. Then came the decisive blow. Kushal Bhurtel produced a brilliant spell of 4 for 21, cutting through the heart of the innings and reducing Afghanistan to 65 for 6. They limped to a below-par 102 for 7 from their 20 overs, a total that always looked short.
Nepal Stumble but Get There
The chase of 103 should have been simple, and it largely was, though Nepal made a few unnecessary hiccups along the way. They slipped to 12 for 2 early and then lost two batters to run-outs, which briefly threatened to complicate things.
But Sundeep Jora steadied the innings with a composed 34, and captain Dipendra Singh Airee chipped in with 15. It was left to the ever-reliable Rohit Paudel, unbeaten on 33, to guide his side home. Nepal reached 103 for 5 in 17.2 overs, sealing a 5-wicket win with plenty to spare.
Turning Point
The match was decided during Afghanistan's innings, and specifically in Kushal Bhurtel's spell. After Lalit Rajbanshi's early strikes had Afghanistan on the back foot, Bhurtel returned to blow away the middle order, taking four wickets to turn a recovery into a collapse. Holding a strong batting side to just 102 removed all the pressure from Nepal's chase, so that even a couple of run-outs could not put the result in real danger.
Stat Corner
Top Performers
| Player / Players | Team | Performance |
| Kushal Bhurtel | Nepal | 4 for 21 |
| Lalit Rajbanshi | Nepal | 3 for 13 |
| Sundeep Jora | Nepal | 34 (35) |
| Rohit Paudel | Nepal | 33 not out (32) |
| Faisal Shinozada / Najibullah Zadran | Afghanistan | 30 each |
Innings Snapshot
| Metric | Afghanistan | Nepal |
| Total | 102 for 7 (20 overs) | 103 for 5 (17.2 overs) |
| Run Rate | 5.10 | 5.94 |
| Powerplay Runs | 19 | 29 |
| Result | Lost | Won by 5 wickets |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Afghanistan vs Nepal Asian Games match?
Nepal, who beat Afghanistan by 5 wickets in Group A.
Who was Nepal's best bowler?
Kushal Bhurtel, with an outstanding 4 for 21, backed by Lalit Rajbanshi's 3 for 13.
What was Afghanistan's total?
Afghanistan managed only 102 for 7 from their 20 overs.
Why does this result matter?
The top two teams in each group reach the Asian Games knockout rounds, so this win strengthens Nepal's position in Group A.
Where was the match played?
At the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan.
Related Guides and Series Coverage
📋 Asian Games 2026 Men's Cricket: Schedule
📋 Asian Games 2026 Cricket: Updates and News