Muslim Basketball

A heartbreaking loss for Kabul after controlling much of the second half. Defensive breakdowns late—including the possession that led to Husan's game-tying shot—proved costly. Championship teams have to close those games out. Akhsay continued his breakout campaign with a monster 14-point, 17-rebound double-double, strengthening his Most Improved case, while Hisham Ali knocked down five three-pointers on his way to 19 points. Even with key absences, Kabul proved they can compete with the league's best—they just have to finish the job.

Kabul is quickly establishing itself as one of the most impressive teams this season with a commanding win over Cairo. This was a true team effort, with Hashim Rahman and Hisham Ali both stepping up in a big way, finishing with 17 and 15 points respectively, while Hassan Saleh added 15 of his own to round out a balanced attack. What stands out most about this group is the way they play together. This is textbook team basketball—constant communication, unselfish play, and relentless effort on both ends of the floor. There are no quiet possessions with this squad; they stay engaged, locked in, and connected from start to finish.

Captain is here! Hassan Saleh delivered a 23-point return performance and led the charge in a comeback win. It didn’t come easy either—Kabul actually trailed by nearly double digits at halftime before flipping the switch in the second half. While Gaza was without Mattias, this was still a strong resilience win worth appreciating. Akshay also continued his strong form, putting up another solid outing and firmly working his way into Most Improved Player conversations with averages of 16 PPG and 8 RPG.

When four of your five players finish in double figures, you know the offense is clicking. Kabul came out firing and built an impressive 11-point lead by halftime thanks to some beautiful team basketball. They spread the floor, moved the ball selflessly, found the open man, and consistently took smart shots. Even when Istanbul made things interesting in the second half, Kabul never let up and kept the pressure on until the final whistle. And when it comes to giving flowers where they’re deserved, Haider Zaki absolutely earned his. Haider dropped a career-high 18 points while shooting nearly 50% from three, completely controlling the pace of the game from start to finish. He looked like the floor general all game, making life easier for stars Akshay and Hashim Rahman and keeping Kabul’s offense running smoothly every possession.

The free-agent squad is back after an impressive run last season, and Hassan Saleh returns as captain with some familiar weapons alongside him. Akshay and both Hishams are back in the mix, but Week 1 was a tough matchup against one of the league’s powerhouse teams. Akshay still impressed with 21 points, flashing both shooting touch and post-game versatility. Don’t be surprised if Kabul runs much of the offense through him moving forward. Getting Hashim Rahman back next week should also give this team a big boost.