Nepal gave world cricket a big message by stunning Afghanistan

Nepal made an emphatic statement in their opening match of the 2026 Asian Games men’s cricket competition, crushing Afghanistan by five wickets at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin. Led by a masterclass from their slow bowlers, Nepal choked the Afghan batting lineup on a helpful surface before calmly tracking down the modest target.

The victory serves as another clear signal that Nepal cricket is rapidly rising on the international stage. Having pushed top sides like India and South Africa to the brink in recent major tournaments, Nepal converted their steady growth into a decisive, high-profile win.

Spinners Dominate First Innings of Nepal vs Afghanistan

Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat, but their innings never found momentum on a sluggish pitch. Left-arm spinner Lalit Rajbanshi delivered an exceptional opening spell. Rajbanshi struck in each of his early overs, removing Hassan Eisakhil, Mohammad Akram, and Karim Janat to leave Afghanistan reeling at 16 for 3 inside five overs.

Faisal Shinozada and experienced campaigner Najibullah Zadran tried to rescue the innings. The pair fought hard to put together a 39-run partnership for the fourth wicket, with both batters scoring 30 runs. However, Nepal refused to give away easy boundaries and kept the scoring rate heavily restricted.

Kushal Bhurtel, widely known for his top-order batting, then took center stage with the ball. Bhurtel bowled with great accuracy and ripped through the Afghan middle and lower order. He claimed 4 wickets for just 21 runs from his four overs, completely shutting down Afghanistan’s chances of a late flourish. His lethal leg-spin spell restricted Afghanistan to a below-par total of 102 for 7 in their 20 overs.

Jora and Paudel Anchor the Chase

Defending 103 runs, Afghanistan made an aggressive start with the new ball. Nepal suffered immediate blows as Bhurtel fell for a duck in the opening over, and wicketkeeper-batter Aasif Sheikh was dismissed shortly after for two.

Sundeep Jora stepped up under pressure and counterattacked smartly. Jora read the pace of the pitch well, playing positive cricket to score 34 runs off 35 deliveries with three fours and a six. He found solid support from Rohit Paudel, who held the innings together with a calm, composed knock.

Afghanistan leg-spinner Arab Gul bowled a testing spell, taking 1 for 13 to keep things tight. Two mid-innings run-outs briefly slowed Nepal’s progress, but the target was always within reach. Paudel guided his team home with an unbeaten 33 off 32 balls, sealing the five-wicket win with 16 balls to spare as Nepal reached 103 for 5 in 17.2 overs.

A Statement Win for Nepal Cricket

Defeating Afghanistan marks a monumental moment for Nepal. Afghanistan has firmly established itself as a global force in T20 cricket, highlighted by their historic run to the semi-finals at the T20 World Cup. While Afghanistan fielded a second-string squad missing several frontline IPL stars, the depth of Afghan cricket makes any win against them a formidable achievement.

For Nepal, this result confirms that their competitive performances against full-member nations are no fluke. The team executed their game plan with maturity in bowling, fielding, and the chase. For the passionate millions of Nepali fans who rally behind their team, this victory delivers immense joy and fuels genuine medal hopes in the Asian Games.