Afghanistan Beat Japan by 48 Runs in Asian Games 2026 Opener

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Afghanistan began their Asian Games 2026 campaign with a 48-run win over Japan in the opening Group A match on September 24.

Japan won the toss and chose to bowl first at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin. Afghanistan scored 129/6 in 20 overs.

Afghanistan Post 129 Runs

Mohammad Akram top-scored with 34 runs from 29 balls. He hit two fours and two sixes.

Captain Darwish Rasooli added 29 runs from 27 balls. Wicketkeeper Mohammad Ishaq stayed unbeaten on 25 from 17 balls.

Karim Janat also made a useful 21.

Japan’s Shoma Sugaya-Slater and Ibrahim Takahashi took two wickets each.

Japan needed 130 runs to win. Their chase started well but soon lost momentum.

Reo Sakurano-Thomas made 23 runs. Benjamin Ito-Davis scored 17 from just eight balls.

Afghanistan then struck at regular intervals. Japan lost their last seven wickets for only 21 runs and were bowled out for 81 in 19.3 overs.

Arab Gul was the star with the ball. The leg-spinner took 4/8 in his four overs.

Nangeyalia Kharote also impressed with 3/19. Abdollah Ahmadzai took two wickets.

The 48-run win gives Afghanistan two points in Group A. Afghanistan will face Nepal in their next match on September 25.

Japan will also meet Nepal on September 26. The top two teams in the group will move into the knockout stage.