The Afghan bowlers dismantled the host nation's batting lineup with ease.

Afghanistan opened their 2026 Asian Games men’s cricket campaign with a statement. They secured a dominant 48-run victory over hosts Japan on Thursday. Japan actually won the coin toss and opted to field first. Afghanistan posted a solid 129 for six in their allotted 20 overs.

Mohammad Akram emerged as the top scorer for the confident Afghan side. He smashed 34 runs from just 29 balls at Korogi Sports Park. Captain Darwish Rasooli added a quick 29 runs from 27 deliveries. Japanese bowlers Shoma Sugaya-Slater and Ibrahim Takahasi took two wickets each.

Mohammad Ishaq provided a crucial late push for the Afghan total.

He scored an unbeaten 25 from 17 balls, hitting a massive six. His partnership with Rasooli helped Afghanistan recover from a slight mid-innings stumble. Japan struggled immediately to build any kind of meaningful run response. The lethal Afghan bowlers kept taking crucial wickets at regular intervals.

The hosts were completely bowled out for 81 in 19.3 overs. They fell embarrassingly short of their established target on home soil. Reo Sakurano-Thomas managed 23 runs to top-score for the struggling Japanese team.

The result gives Afghanistan a massive early advantage in Group A.

Afghan spinner Nangeyalia Kharote took two quick wickets to seal the deal. The group also includes Nepal, who Afghanistan will face on Friday. Japan desperately needs a victory against Nepal in their upcoming Saturday match.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals. They will join seeded powerhouses like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. The tournament promises intense action in the coming days.

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