AFG vs NEP live update: Afghanistan lose two early wickets

AFG vs NEP began at 10:30 AM IST on 25 September after Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bat in their Asian Games 2026 Group A match. At Anna News’s 10:49 AM IST publication check, ESPN showed Afghanistan at 13/2 after four overs. Lalit Rajbanshi had taken two wickets for only two runs in his first two overs.[2]

That score is a time-stamped snapshot, not the final Afghanistan vs Nepal result. A live cricket page can change between refreshes, and later corrections are possible. Readers arriving after publication should use the match centre or the Anna News live-score panel for the newest number, then check the official tournament record after play.[2]

The early wickets gave Nepal the stronger opening. Hassan Eisakhil and Mohammad Akram were dismissed inside the first three overs, while Karim Janat and Faisal Khan Ahmadzai were rebuilding. Four overs cannot decide a T20, but they can change the shape of the innings: Afghanistan had to protect wickets without allowing the required tempo to disappear.[2]

Searches for AFG versus NEP rose quickly as play started. Google Trends India listed ‘afg vs nep’ as Active with 50K+ searches and a 1,000% rise when checked at about 10:30 AM IST. That figure describes a short-term search spike, not the size of the total audience and not a promise that any page will rank.[1]

Afghanistan vs Nepal match time, venue and where to watch

The Afghanistan vs Nepal men’s T20I is being played at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Aichi, Japan. The scheduled start was 10:30 AM IST, which is 2:00 PM local time. It is the fourth match of the Asian Games men’s cricket competition and belongs to Group A.[2] [3]

NDTV Profit reported that Sony Sports Network would televise the match in India and SonyLIV would provide the live stream. Channel numbers and language feeds can vary by platform, so viewers should confirm the current programme listing rather than relying on a reused social-media card.[3]

A live-score search usually has three different needs: the current total, the playing XI and the qualification impact. The score is the fastest-changing item. The playing XIs became official after the toss. The group consequence is settled only when the match and the remaining Group A schedule are complete.[2] [3]

The match centre lists this contest as T20I number 4145. A final scorecard should show the innings totals, overs, fall of wickets and player awards. Until the result is posted, phrases such as ‘Afghanistan win’ or ‘Nepal qualify’ should not be treated as confirmed.[2]

AFG vs NEP playing XI: who started the match

Afghanistan’s confirmed XI was Mohammad Akram, Hassan Eisakhil, Karim Janat, captain Darwish Rasooli, Najibullah Zadran, wicketkeeper Mohammad Ishaq, Faisal Shinozada, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Nangeyalia Kharoti and Arab Gul Momand.[3]

Nepal selected Kushal Bhurtel, wicketkeeper Aasif Sheikh, Rohit Paudel, captain Dipendra Singh Airee, Kushal Malla, Gulsan Jha, Sundeep Jora, Lokesh Bam, Sandeep Lamichhane, Karan KC and Lalit Rajbanshi.[3]

The names explain the tactical contrast. Afghanistan included experience through Karim Janat and Najibullah Zadran but used a younger attack than the senior side that recently played India in Delhi. Nepal fielded a familiar core with Rohit Paudel, Dipendra Singh Airee, Kushal Bhurtel and Sandeep Lamichhane, while Karan KC and Rajbanshi offered new-ball and spin control.[3]

The first four overs showed why the XI matters more than a pre-match squad graphic. Rajbanshi’s left-arm spin removed two Afghanistan batters, and Nepal also used Kushal Bhurtel’s leg-breaks early. That was a matchup decision visible only after the toss and opening bowling changes.[2]

Why Afghanistan versus Nepal matters to India’s quarter-final

Afghanistan versus Nepal is not an isolated group game. The top two teams in Group A advance to the quarter-finals. India have a direct place in quarter-final 2 on 28 September and will face the team that finishes second in this group. Sri Lanka are scheduled to face the Group A winner on 29 September.[5] [6]

Afghanistan entered the day with two points and a net run rate of +2.4 after beating Japan. Nepal had not played before this fixture, while Japan had lost once. In a three-team group, one result can move qualification from a simple points calculation to net run rate, which is why the final table matters more than a headline written during the first innings.[2] [3]

For Indian supporters, the relevant question is not merely who wins AFG vs NEP. It is which team becomes A2 after all Group A matches are counted. That team is India’s opponent. A1 goes into Sri Lanka’s side of the quarter-final bracket.[5]

The men’s knockout schedule places India’s quarter-final on 28 September, the semi-finals on 1 October and the medal matches on 3 October. The short turnaround makes Group A form useful, but it also means teams have limited time to reset after travel and qualification.[6]

Afghanistan arrived after a 48-run win over Japan

Afghanistan started their Asian Games campaign by making 129/6 against Japan and then dismissing the hosts for 81. The 48-run win placed Afghanistan on top of Group A before the Nepal match, with a net run rate of +2.4.[3]

Arab Gul Momand took 4/8 on his T20I debut, while Nangeyalia Kharote returned 3/19. Those figures made Afghanistan’s bowling the central strength of the opening match. A modest first-innings total became comfortable because Japan never built a stable chase.[3]

Nepal presented a different batting challenge. Their XI contained several players with wider international experience, including Dipendra Singh Airee, Rohit Paudel and Sandeep Lamichhane. Afghanistan therefore needed more than the memory of the Japan result; they needed a competitive total and enough control to prevent Nepal’s middle order from setting the pace.[3]

The early loss of two wickets changed that plan. Afghanistan could still rebuild through Janat, Rasooli and Najibullah, but the innings had less freedom than it would have after a clean powerplay. Nepal’s task was to keep attacking without allowing a recovery partnership to erase the advantage.[2]

Nepal vs Afghanistan history: the 2014 T20 World Cup upset

The previous Nepal vs Afghanistan T20I was played at the 2014 World T20 in Chattogram. Nepal scored 141/5 and restricted Afghanistan to 132/8, winning by nine runs. That result is why the head-to-head record entering this Asian Games match showed Nepal leading 1–0.[3] [4]

Subash Khakurel made 56 from 53 balls for Nepal and Sharad Vesawkar added 37 from 32. The total was not enormous, but Nepal protected it. Jitendra Mukhiya took 3/18 and was Player of the Match as Afghanistan lost three wickets in the powerplay and never fully recovered.[4]

The 2014 scorecard should be treated as history, not a current prediction. The squads, venue and competitive setting are different. What it does show is that Nepal have already beaten Afghanistan on a major T20 stage by defending a reachable total. That gives the NEP vs AFG rivalry a real result behind the search interest.[4]

The teams have met in other formats and non-T20I competitions, but the widely cited men’s T20I head-to-head before the 2026 match was one game and one Nepal win. Mixing all formats can produce a different count, so a useful comparison must state the format.[3] [4]

What could decide Afghanistan vs Nepal from here

Afghanistan’s first task after 13/2 was to create a partnership without letting Nepal’s spinners bowl risk-free overs. Karim Janat’s experience and Darwish Rasooli’s role as captain made the middle phase important. A recovery needed strike rotation as well as boundary options; simply surviving would leave too much work for the final five overs.[2] [3]

Nepal’s decision was whether to keep spin on while the ball was gripping or bring back pace to attack the stumps. Rajbanshi’s opening spell had already created pressure. Sandeep Lamichhane and Kushal Malla gave captain Dipendra Singh Airee further spin choices, but overs saved for the lower order could become valuable if Afghanistan rebuilt.[3]

When Nepal bat, Afghanistan’s opening-match bowlers will be closely watched. Arab Gul and Nangeyalia Kharote combined for seven wickets against Japan. Nepal’s top order, however, has more experience of high-pressure associate cricket. The contest is likely to turn on whether Afghanistan can take wickets before Airee and the middle order control the chase.[3]

The final answer must come from the completed scorecard. Live pages can lag, broadcasters can show a different ball count and social posts can circulate old footage. Check the update time, confirm the innings and wait for the result line before sharing qualification claims. Anna News will keep its live-score panel separate from this time-stamped match guide.[2]

Questions readers ask

What was the AFG vs NEP score at publication time?

ESPN showed Afghanistan at 13/2 after four overs at about 10:49 AM IST on 25 September 2026. The match was live, so readers should check the latest scorecard for the current total and final result.[2]

Who won the toss in Afghanistan vs Nepal?

Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bat first at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin.[2] [3]

Where can viewers watch AFG vs NEP in India?

NDTV Profit reported television coverage on Sony Sports Network and live streaming on SonyLIV. Viewers should confirm the current channel and stream listing.[3]

Why does Afghanistan vs Nepal matter to India?

India will face the second-placed team from Group A in the Asian Games quarter-final on 28 September. The Afghanistan–Nepal result contributes directly to deciding A1 and A2.[5] [6]

Who won the previous Nepal vs Afghanistan T20I?

Nepal won by nine runs at the 2014 World T20. Nepal made 141/5 and Afghanistan finished on 132/8; Jitendra Mukhiya took 3/18 and was Player of the Match.[4]

Sources

  1. Google Trends India — Trending Now — Google Trends. Accessed 2026-09-25T10:30:44+05:30.
  2. Afghanistan vs Nepal, Asian Games Men's Cricket Competition 2026, live match centre — ESPN. Accessed 2026-09-25T10:49:00+05:30.
  3. Afghanistan vs Nepal Live Streaming: When and Where to Watch AFG vs NEP Asian Games 2026 Match — NDTV Profit. Accessed 2026-09-25T10:49:03+05:30.
  4. Afghanistan vs Nepal, 2014 World T20, full scorecard — ESPNcricinfo. Accessed 2026-09-25T10:49:47+05:30.
  5. Asian Games Cricket Schedule: Who will India face in quarter-final? — The Indian Express. Accessed 2026-09-25T10:33:35+05:30.
  6. India at Asian Games 2026 — cricket schedule — Olympics.com. Accessed 2026-09-25T10:49:50+05:30.

Anna News Desk checked Google Trends India, ESPN’s live match centre, NDTV Profit’s toss and broadcast update, the 2014 ESPNcricinfo scorecard and the Asian Games knockout schedule on 25 September 2026. The 13/2 score is explicitly time-stamped because the match was in progress. The final result and table may change after publication. The trend figure is a public Google Trends snapshot, not a traffic guarantee. The cover is an original editorial illustration with fictional players.