Afghanistan faced a blow in their ODI series against Bangladesh after star batter Rahmat Shah suffered a calf injury during the second match at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, October 11. The experienced player is now set to miss the third and final ODI on October 14. Despite the setback, Afghanistan defeated Bangladesh by 81 runs in a low-scoring contest. The Hashmatullah Shahidi-led side posted 190 runs in 44.5 overs before dismissing Bangladesh for 109 to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Rahmat Shah’s injury occurred while he was attempting a quick single in the 15th over. He immediately showed signs of pain and was unable to walk properly. The right-hander retired hurt and was later seen being taken off the field in a wheelchair. In a brave move, Rahmat returned to bat when Afghanistan were nine wickets down for 189, but his comeback lasted just one ball.

Rishad Hossain bowled a googly that struck Rahmat on the abdomen, and he collapsed in visible pain. Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Afghanistan’s physio, Nirmalan Thanabalasingam, rushed to help before Rahmat was carried off the field again in a wheelchair. The injury left fans concerned about his condition and Afghanistan’s plans for the final ODI.

Physio Confirms Serious Injury

Team physio Nirmalan Thanabalasingam later confirmed that Rahmat Shah’s injury was serious and that he would be sidelined for some time. "He (Rahmat) unfortunately succumbed to his injury, so he is out now. We will do all the right things in terms of imaging and stuff tomorrow. He is going to be out for some time, I think," Thanabalasingam said, according to Cricbuzz.

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Rahmat Shah reminded us what heroes are made of 🙌#AFGvBAN pic.twitter.com/Rn4ZVemS9Y

— FanCode (@FanCode) October 11, 2025

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Rahmat recently became the first Afghan batter to surpass 4,000 ODI runs and played a vital half-century in the series opener. His absence will be a major setback for Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Rashid Khan’s brilliant five-wicket haul and Azmatullah’s early breakthroughs sealed Afghanistan’s win as Bangladesh were bowled out for just 109 runs in 28.3 overs.

The Asia Cup 2025 is about to go live with the top Asian sides going for glory in the tournament. The first match is between Afghanistan & Hong Kong in Group B at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, at 8 PM IST on Tuesday.

This will be Hong Kong’s fifth appearance in the Asia Cup, but they find themselves in a challenging group this year. Afghanistan, meanwhile, comes into the tournament after losing the final of the T20I Tri-series against Pakistan on Sunday and will be eager to bounce back with a winning start to their campaign.

AFG vs HK: Head-to-Head Record

Afghanistan and Hong Kong have shared a competitive rivalry in T20 internationals.

• Matches Played: 6
• Afghanistan Won: 4
• Hong Kong Won: 2

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AFG vs HK: Stadium Stats 

Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi has historically favored teams that bowl first, with a 59% win when chasing. With average first-inning score of 144 and often affords a competitive balance between bat and ball.

• Matches Played: 44
  
• Win Bat first: 41%
  
• Win Bowl first: 59%
  
• Average 1st Innings Score: 144
  
• Average 2nd Innings Score: 133
  
• Highest Total: 210/2 (AFG vs IND)
  
• Lowest Total: 84/10 (BAN vs RSA)
  
• Highest Chase: 174/2 (SA vs IRE)
  
• Lowest Defended: 129/6 (PAK vs ENG)