Nepal produced one of the biggest talking points of the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket competition on Friday, defeating Afghanistan by five wickets in a low-scoring Group A contest. The result has suddenly made the qualification race in the group far more interesting, with Nepal now heading into its final match against Japan with a chance to finish at the top.
Afghanistan, who had defeated Japan in their opening match, struggled badly with the bat against Nepal’s disciplined bowling attack. After being restricted to just 102/7 in 20 overs, Afghanistan could not put enough pressure on Nepal during the chase. Nepal reached 103/5 in only 17.2 overs, with former captain Rohit Paudel finishing unbeaten on 33.
The standout performer with the ball was Kushal Bhurtel. The Nepal all-rounder returned impressive figures of 4/21, while Lalit Rajbanshi added three wickets for just 13 runs. Their combined effort kept Afghanistan under control for almost the entire innings.
Afghanistan lose control early
Afghanistan won the toss and decided to bat first, but the decision did not bring the expected reward. Nepal immediately put pressure on the Afghan top order and removed three important batters for only 16 runs.
Hassan Eisakhil was dismissed for a duck, Mohammad Akram made only two runs and Karim Janat scored nine. With the top order unable to build a partnership, Afghanistan were forced into recovery mode much earlier than expected.
Faisal Khan Ahmadzai and Najibullah Zadran then became the main resistance. Both scored 30, helping Afghanistan move beyond the 50-run mark. However, Nepal kept taking wickets at regular intervals and never allowed Afghanistan to establish complete control.
Mohammad Ishaq contributed seven, while captain Darwish Rasooli was dismissed without scoring. Nangeyalia Khan’s unbeaten 17 from 15 deliveries helped Afghanistan cross the 100-run mark, but 102/7 was ultimately not enough.
Bhurtel was the main destroyer, taking four wickets for 21 runs. Rajbanshi was equally effective, finishing with 3/13. ESPN’s match report also confirmed the same bowling figures, highlighting how Nepal’s spin attack controlled the contest.
Ricky Ponting fan Bhurtel turns match-winner
There was an interesting personal connection behind Bhurtel’s performance. The Nepal cricketer is a huge fan of former Australia captain Ricky Ponting and has previously explained that his jersey number, 14, is connected to his admiration for the Australian great.
Bhurtel’s cricket journey has also taken an unusual route. According to ESPN, he grew up as an Australia supporter and developed a stronger connection with cricket after watching Nepal defeat Afghanistan at the 2014 T20 World Cup. That match became a turning point for him and strengthened his ambition to play international cricket.
On Friday, his influence came with the ball rather than the bat. Bhurtel was dismissed for a duck while Nepal were chasing, but he had already done the important damage earlier in the day.
That is one of the reasons his performance stood out. A player who had an off day with the bat still managed to become one of the biggest reasons behind Nepal’s victory.
Nepal also stumble before recovering
Nepal’s chase did not begin smoothly.
They lost Kushal Bhurtel on the second ball of the innings when Faridun Dawoodzai removed him, with Hassan Eisakhil taking an excellent catch. Aasif Sheikh then departed for only two runs, leaving Nepal in an uncomfortable position.
Kushal Malla was also dismissed for nine, reducing Nepal to 31 runs for three wickets.
At that stage, Afghanistan had a genuine opportunity to turn the pressure into another collapse. Instead, Sundeep Jora changed the momentum.
Jora scored a valuable 34 from 35 balls, including three fours and a six. His partnership with the middle order gave Nepal the platform it needed to move closer to the target.
Rohit Paudel then took responsibility.
The former Nepal captain played a calm and controlled innings, scoring an unbeaten 33 from 32 balls with four boundaries. His innings was particularly important because Afghanistan had already removed several of Nepal’s top-order batters.
Dipendra Singh Airee added 15 from 18 balls before falling with Nepal just one run away from victory. Gulshan Jha then scored the winning run as Nepal completed the chase with 16 balls remaining.
Nepal now have a major opportunity
The victory has changed the picture in Group A.
The men’s cricket competition at the Asian Games features Afghanistan, Japan and Nepal in Group A, while Hong Kong, China, Malaysia and Oman make up Group B. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh received direct places in the quarter-finals. The top two teams from each preliminary group also advance to the knockout stage.
Nepal’s next match against Japan on September 26 is therefore extremely important.
According to the official Asian Games schedule, Japan and Nepal will meet at Korogi Sports Park on Saturday morning. The top two teams from Group A will progress, while the second-placed side from the group will meet India in the quarter-final on September 28.
That makes the final group match more than just another fixture for Nepal. The result could determine whether they finish first or second and, consequently, which route they take into the knockout stage.
India’s quarter-final opponent will be the second-placed team from Group A. The exact opponent will only become clear after the Japan-Nepal match.
Afghanistan now face a tricky situation
For Afghanistan, the defeat is a setback after their opening victory against Japan.
They had started the tournament with a win and looked well placed in Group A, but the five-wicket loss to Nepal has brought the qualification battle back to life.
Their batting will be the biggest concern. Scoring only 102/7 after 20 overs meant their bowlers had very little margin for error. Although they took five Nepal wickets, the target was simply too small to defend comfortably.
Nepal, meanwhile, showed that they can win even when their top order does not fire. Bhurtel fell for a duck, Aasif Sheikh made only two and Kushal Malla scored nine, yet Jora and Paudel kept the chase alive.
That depth could prove important if Nepal progress to the knockout stage.
The Asian Games men’s cricket quarter-finals begin on September 28, followed by the semi-finals on October 1 and the medal matches on October 3.
For now, Nepal can celebrate a memorable win, but there is little time to relax. Japan awaits next, and that match could decide the entire shape of Group A.
With Bhurtel producing magic with the ball, Paudel finishing the job with the bat and Nepal keeping their knockout hopes alive, the Rhinos have certainly made the Asian Games cricket competition more interesting.
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