Afghanistan national cricket team

Cricket in Afghanistan was popularised by Afghan expatriates who learnt the sport while living in Pakistan in the 1980s and 1990s, during the post-Soviet invasion era.^[28][29] Most members of the early Afghanistan national cricket team grew up in Pakistan and participated in the country's domestic cricket structure, making use of cricket facilities in Peshawar with the support of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).^[30][29] It was during this time that the Afghanistan Cricket Federation (now ACB) was also founded, in 1995.^[31] Like all sports, cricket was initially banned by the Taliban, but cricket became an exception in 2000 (being the only sport in Afghanistan to be approved by the Taliban). The ACF received recognition from the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2001.^[31]

Afghanistan fielded their cricket team in Pakistan's domestic setup for the first time in the 2001–02 season, participating in the second division of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy where they drew two and lost three of their five games.^[32][33] They returned for the Cornelius Trophy in the 2002–03 season, drawing one and losing three matches.^[34] In the 2003–04 season, they made an appearance in the PCB's inter-district tournament in Peshawar, where they registered their lone victory against Swabi, drew twice and lost two matches.^[33][35]

They began playing in Asian regional tournaments in 2004, finishing sixth in their first ACC Trophy. More success began in 2006 when they were runners-up to Bahrain in the Middle East Cup and beat an MCC side featuring former England captain Mike Gatting by 171 runs in Mumbai. Gatting was dismissed for a duck.^[36]

They toured England in the summer of 2006, winning six out of seven matches. Three of their wins came against the second XIs of Essex, Glamorgan and Leicestershire.^[15] They finished third in the ACC Trophy that year, beating Nepal in a play-off match.^[36]

They won their first tournament in 2007, sharing the ACC Twenty20 Cup with Oman after the two tied in the final.^[36] They began their qualifying campaign for the 2011 World Cup in Jersey in 2008, winning Division Five of the World Cricket League.^[37] They finished third in the ACC Trophy Elite tournament the same year,^[15] and won a second consecutive WCL tournament, Division Four in Tanzania later in the year.^[15]

The Afghanistan national team was coached by former Pakistani cricketers Kabir Khan and Rashid Latif in its initial years.^[28][30] During this period, a number of Afghan international cricketers made appearances for Pakistani domestic outfits in the first-class circuit.^[29][38][39]

In January 2009, Afghanistan progressed to the 2009 World Cup Qualifier by winning Division Three of the World Cricket League in Buenos Aires, topping the table on net run rate ahead of Uganda and Papua New Guinea.^[40]

In 2010, Afghanistan competed at the Asian Games, a non-ICC T20 event hosted by China, where they defeated a second-string Pakistan side by 22 runs in the semi-finals in what was considered an upset.^[41] In May 2011, the Afghan side embarked on a tour of Pakistan to partake in a three-match limited overs series against Pakistan A, where they were whitewashed by the home side 3–0.^[42][38] They followed this up with another tour in September to participate in Pakistan's domestic National T20 Cup in Karachi as the Afghan Cheetahs, but had another poor outing, losing all three of their matches.^[43]

In the 2011 Cricket World Cup qualifying tournament, Afghanistan failed to progress to the World Cup, but earned ODI status for four years.^[15] Their first ODI was against Scotland in the 5th place playoff, having previously beaten the Scots earlier in the tournament; Afghanistan won by 89 runs.^[44] Afghanistan became the only affiliate member to have ODI status.

In the Intercontinental Cup Afghanistan played its first first-class match against a Zimbabwe XI in a four-day match in Mutare. During the match, which was drawn, Afghan batsman Noor Ali scored centuries in both his innings, making him only the fourth player to do so on their first-class debut. Later, in August 2009, they played the Netherlands in the same competition at the VRA Cricket Ground, winning a low-scoring match by one wicket.^[45]

Afghanistan then took part in the 2009 ACC Twenty20 Cup in the United Arab Emirates. Afghanistan were drawn in Group A, a group which Afghanistan topped at the end of the group stages by winning all five of their matches. In the semi-finals the Afghans defeated Kuwait by 8 wickets.^[46] In the final they met the hosts, the United Arab Emirates, whom they defeated by 84 runs.^[47]

On 1 February 2010, Afghanistan played their first Twenty20 International against Ireland,^[48] which they lost by 5 wickets.^[49] On 13 February 2010, Afghanistan defeated the United Arab Emirates by 4 wickets to make their way to the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 to be in the West Indies in April 2010. Later the same day they defeated Ireland by 8 wickets in the Final of 2010 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier to win the qualifier.^[50] Afghanistan were in Group C of the main tournament, with India and South Africa. During their first match against India, opening batsman Noor Ali hit 50 runs, helping Afghanistan to a score of 115 in their 20 overs. Despite this they lost the match by 8 wickets.^[51] In their second match, the team were reduced to 14/6 at one stage, before a late rally from Mirwais Ashraf and Hamid Hassan helped Afghanistan post 88 all out, resulting in a loss by 59 runs.^[52]

The team's Intercontinental Cup campaign continued in 2010, with wins over Ireland, Canada, Scotland and Kenya before they beat Scotland by 7 wickets in the final in Dubai.^[53] Also in 2010, they won the ACC Trophy Elite tournament in Kuwait, beating Nepal in the final^[54] and finished third in Division One of the World Cricket League in the Netherlands.^[55] They took part in the cricket tournament at the 2010 Asian Games in China and won the silver medal, losing to Bangladesh in the final.^[56]

In 2011, Afghanistan begun the 2011-13 ICC World Cricket League Championship. They beat Canada and drew with the UAE.^[57] In the parallel one-day league, they won two matches against Canada and lost twice to the UAE.^[58] In December once again took part in the ACC Twenty20 Cup, this time in Nepal. They went on to win all of their matches to once again take the Cup.

On 10 February 2012, Afghanistan played a one-off One Day International (ODI) match against Pakistan at Sharjah, the first ever official game between the two sides and also the first ever ODI between an Affiliate and a Test-playing nation.^[59] Billed as a historic occasion for Afghan cricket, the game was won comfortably by Pakistan by seven wickets with 13 overs to spare.^[60][61] They also took on the Australia Cricket Team in an Only ODI at Sharjah in August 2012. They fell short in both matches, but their performance showed they were continuing to make progress. Their 2012 ICC International Cup games were also challenging, resulting in a split with the Netherlands and a loss to Ireland.

2013 brought greater success for Afghanistan. In March, they played two T20 Internationals against Scotland in UAE and prevailed in both matches. They also won two ODIs in the World Cricket League Championship against the same opponents.

In the WCL Championship table, as 2013 dawned Afghanistan was level with Scotland in third, trailing Ireland and the Netherlands for the two automatic qualification spots for the 2015 World Cup. However, two convincing wins in spring over Scotland boosted hopes some. Then in July the Netherlands failed to take any points against Ireland, leaving Afghanistan in position to qualify if they could win their final four matches, against poorer performing Namibia and Kenya. Despite the United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands both being able to win their remaining games, keeping the pressure on Afghanistan, Afghanistan handled Namibia, then defeated Kenya by 8 wickets on 2 October. With one final win over Kenya on 4 October by 7 wickets, Afghanistan secured second in the Championship with 19 points, and qualified for World Cup.^[62]

Afghanistan also crushed Scotland in their one-day ICC Intercontinental Cup league in March in Abu Dhabi: Afghanistan (275: Shah 67*, Davey 4–53) beat Scotland (125: Taylor 48*, Dawlatzai 6–57 and 145: Coetzer 57, Dawlatzai 5–37) by an innings and 5 runs. Izatullah Dawlatzai took eleven wickets.^[63]

In July 2014 Afghanistan toured Zimbabwe to play its 1st full series against a full member. The 4 match ODI series finished 2–2 and the 2 match first class series finished 1–1.

With their victory over Zimbabwe on 25 December 2015, Afghanistan entered the top 10 of the ICC's ODI rankings for the first time.^[64]

Afghanistan had become an Affiliate member of the ICC in 2001. Then in 2009 it had attained one-day status until 2015.

In 2012, the Asian Cricket Council decided to nominate Afghanistan for Associate membership with the ICC, with the request being looked into at the ICC's annual conference in June. Becoming an Associate would mean higher funding (the ICC had been paying $700,000 in annual funding to Afghanistan's organization, suggested to rise to $850,000 for Associate status), and also importantly would mean more exposure for the passionate and cricket-starved players from war-torn Afghanistan.^[65][66]

In March 2013, Afghanistan received a further support boost when a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the development of Afghanistan cricket ahead of the 2015 World Cup.

The PCB provided technical and professional support, including game-education programmes, coaching courses, skill and performance analysis, and basic umpiring and curator courses. High performance camps for emerging players were also organised. The PCB-regulated National Cricket Academy (NCA) helped in improving technical, tactical, mental and physical skills, and hosted lectures on doping, anti-corruption and various codes of conduct.^[67]

In April 2013, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) was also allocated US$422,000 (22,400,000 AFN approx.) from the ICC's targeted assistance and performance programme. The world governing body of cricket approved the grant at its IDI (ICC Development International) board meeting, which concluded in Dubai. The money, to be given over three years, was aimed at developing more competitive teams among ICC Full, Associate and Affiliate members. Previous countries to receive similar funding programmes included the Netherlands, Scotland, the West Indies, Zimbabwe and Ireland. An ICC statement suggested the funding was targeted towards the development of the National Cricket Academy in Kabul.

On 26 June 2013 at the ICC's annual meeting in London, England, Afghanistan received its Associate Membership^[68] with the statement:

"Afghanistan is the only country that receives the Associate Membership in a short period of time in reward to the efforts Afghanistan made for the promotion of cricket," (Dr Noor Muhammad, CEO of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), on the ACC website)

Qualification for the tournament was a historic feat for cricket in Afghanistan, one amplified by the fact that the team included many players who picked up the game in refugee camps outside their war-torn country.^[69]

Afghanistan made their World Cup debut in the 2015 Cricket World Cup which their first game was against Bangladesh at the Manuka Oval in Canberra, Australia. The match resulted in a 105 run defeat.^[70] On 26 February 2015, Afghanistan won their first World Cup match against Scotland, winning by one wicket. The team however, lost all its remaining games and were knocked out of the tournament in the opening round.

The 2019 Cricket World Cup was the second Cricket World Cup in which Afghanistan participated in. Thus, it was Afghanistan's first consecutive World Cup appearance (2015-2019). This World Cup was in a "round robin" format where Afghanistan faced all the other teams but did not manage to claim victory against any national team in the tournament for the first time in their short history in the World Cup tournament.^[71]

In the 2023 Cricket World Cup, Afghanistan secured a victory by 69 runs against the defending champions, England, in their third match of the World Cup on 15 October 2023. This was the first time Afghanistan defeated England and the first time Afghanistan defeated the defending Cricket World Cup champions.^[72] This was backed up by a first ever victory over Pakistan in ODI cricket.^[73] They also defeated Sri Lanka for the first time in the Cricket World Cup by 7 wickets on 30 October 2023. This was also the first time in a Cricket World Cup that Afghanistan had won two matches consecutively. In the following match, they defeated Netherlands for the first time in the Cricket World Cup. This was the first time Afghanistan achieved three consecutive victories in the Cricket World Cup.

The team visited Zimbabwe for the second time in October where Afghanistan clinched a historic one-day international series over Zimbabwe after a 73-run victory in Bulawayo saw them win 3–2.

Doing so, they became the first non-Test-playing country to win a multi-game bilateral ODI series against a Test side. The Afghanistan cricket team toured the United Arab Emirates to play the United Arab Emirates cricket team in December 2016. The tour consisted of three Twenty20 International (T20I) matches. Afghanistan won the series 3–0. The Afghanistan cricket team toured Bangladesh in September and October 2016 to play three One Day Internationals (ODIs) matches. This was Afghanistan's first full series against a Test-playing side other than Zimbabwe and was the first bilateral series between the two sides.

Ahead of the ODI series there was a fifty-over warm-up game between the Bangladesh Cricket Board XI and Afghanistan in Fatullah. Afghanistan won the warm-up match by 66 runs and Bangladesh won the ODI series 2–1.

In February 2017 the International Cricket Council (ICC) awarded first-class status to Afghanistan's four-day domestic competition.^[74]

The Afghan cricket team toured Zimbabwe between January and February 2017. The tour consisted of five One Day International (ODI) matches. Prior to the ODI series, the Afghanistan A cricket team played five "unofficial" ODI matches against the Zimbabwe A cricket team. All of those matches had been designated List A status. Afghanistan won the initial List A series 4–1 and the ODI series 3–2.2017

The Ireland cricket team toured India during March 2017 to participate in a series of matches against Afghanistan, consisting of three T20 matches, five ODI contests and an ICC Intercontinental Cup match.^[75] All the matches took place in Greater Noida. The Afghan team were highly successful, emerging victorious in both the T20I series 3–0 and the ODI series 3–2. Afghanistan also won the ICC Intercontinental Cup match, by the margin of an innings and 172 runs.

The Afghanistan cricket team completed another tour in June 2017, this time facing the West Indies.^[76] The tour marked Afghanistan's first bilateral tour against a full member nation other than Zimbabwe. (Later that month, Afghanistan itself was awarded that status.) The tour was less successful for the Afghans, who were convincingly defeated 3–0 in the T20 series.^[77] They performed better in the ODI series, seizing a 1–1 draw after the final match was washed out with no result. Afghanistan registered their first win against Sri Lanka in Asia Cup.

Afghanistan qualified for 2012 ICC World Twenty20 held in Sri Lanka as the runner up of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier and joined India and England in the group stage. In the first match against India on 19 September, Afghanistan won the toss and elected to field. India posted 159/5 in 20 overs but Afghanistan fell short of that target by scoring 136 in 19.3 overs. In the second match against England on 21 September, Afghanistan won the toss and again elected to field. England set a target of 196/5 (20 overs) but Afghanistan were all out for 80 in 17.2 overs. England and India qualified for the Super Eights and Afghanistan were eliminated as a result of this match.

On 3 October 2013, Afghanistan beat Kenya to finish second in the WCL Championship and qualify for the 2015 Cricket World Cup, becoming the 20th team to gain entry into the tournament overall. Afghanistan secured their passage to Australia and New Zealand in 2015 by beating Kenya comprehensively for the second time in succession in Sharjah, sealing their maiden World Cup qualification. They finished second in the World Cricket League Championship — nine wins in 14 matches — and joined Ireland as the second Associate team in the 2015 World Cup, while the remaining two spots for Associates will be decided by a qualifying tournament in New Zealand in 2014. Afghanistan will join Pool A at the World Cup along with Australia, Bangladesh, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and another qualifier.^[78] On 24 November 2013, Afghanistan beat Kenya to qualify for the 2014 T20 world cup.

In March 2014, Afghanistan beat Hong Kong in the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 but could not make it to the next stage of super 10 having lost the two matches to Bangladesh and Nepal.

On 25 February 2015, Afghanistan won their first Cricket World Cup match beating Scotland by one wicket. Afghanistan participated in the World Twenty20 2016 in India. They were unable to qualify for the Semi-Finals of the International Tournament. They defeated the eventual champions, West Indies, during their final group match of the tournament.

Their third match was against the full member test team Zimbabwe. They played exceptionally well beating Zimbabwe by 59 runs. Afghanistan qualified for the Super 10 stage of the tournament as a result of this match, while Zimbabwe were eliminated. Afghanistan progressed to the second phase of a World Twenty20 tournament for the first time. On 25 June 2016, Lalchand Rajput was named as head coach of Afghanistan Cricket Team replacing Pakistan's Inzamam ul Haq with his first outings with the team being a tour of Scotland, Ireland and the Netherlands in July and August of that year. He was chosen ahead of Mohammad Yousuf, Herschelle Gibbs and Corey Collymore^[79] Rajput is in line for a two-year contract, but that decision would be finalised after the upcoming tour of Europe.

In July 2016, ACB unveiled a strategic plan and set targets for Afghanistan cricket team to be a top-six ODI team by 2019 and a top-three team in both T20Is and ODIs by 2025.^[80] In order to achieve this, ACB created a proposal to be presented to BCCI, to secure annual bilateral matches against India and teams touring India beginning the following year.^[81] Shafiq Stanikzai, Chief Executive of ACB, said the draft had been presented to BCCI president Anurag Thakur in May and further discussions occurred during the ICC Annual Conference in Edinburgh in June 2016.

On 25 July 2016, Afghanistan confirmed its first full series against West Indies a top-8 ranked Full member.^[82] Its earlier full series came against a permanent member of ICC was against Zimbabwe. Afghanistan toured the Caribbean islands in mid-June 2017 and played 5 ODIs and 3 T20Is.

On the same day, it was announced that Afghanistan would host a full series against Ireland at Greater Noida.^[83] Besides a 4-day intercontinental cup match, Ireland and Afghanistan would play five ODIs and three T20Is in March 2017. Afghanistan won the T20I series 3-0 and in the process set a new T20I record of 11 consecutive victories.

On 22 June 2017, the International Cricket Council (ICC) awarded Afghanistan full Test status, along with Ireland.^[84] In December 2017, the ICC confirmed that Afghanistan were scheduled to play their first Test against India, in late 2018.^[85] According to the ICC Future Tours Programme for 2019–23, Afghanistan are scheduled to play thirteen Tests.^[86] In January 2018, both the ACB and the BCCI confirmed the Test would be played in June in Bengaluru.^[87][88]

In June 2018, Afghanistan lost their maiden Test match to hosts India by an innings and 262 runs, despite being able to bowl out a strong Indian team in the first innings.

In March 2019 against Ireland, Afghanistan achieved their first Test match victory in their only second Test match, becoming the fourth team after Australia, England and Pakistan to win one of their first two Tests.^[89][90]

In September 2019, Afghanistan beat hosts Bangladesh by 224 runs in a one-off Test tour. Rain almost resulted in the match being drawn, but finally the weather cleared, allowing the spin-unit of Afghanistan to take the final four wickets.

5 – 9 September 2019 Scorecard

Afghanistan	v	Bangladesh
342 (117 overs) Rahmat Shah 102 (187) Taijul Islam 4/116 (41 overs)		205 (70.5 overs) Mominul Haque 52 (71) Rashid Khan 5/55 (19.1 overs)
260 (90.1 overs) Ibrahim Zadran 87 (208) Shakib Al Hasan 3/58 (19 overs)		173 (61.4 overs) Shakib Al Hasan 44 (54) Rashid Khan 6/49 (21.4 overs)

Afghanistan won by 224 runs. Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram Umpires: Nigel Llong (Eng) and Paul Wilson (Aus) Player of the match: Rashid Khan (AFG)

• Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat.
• Rahmat Shah and Rashid Khan became the first players to score a century and take 10 wickets in a Test for Afghanistan, respectively.

Afghanistan typically do not play their home matches in Afghanistan due to the ongoing security situation and the lack of international standard facilities. Afghanistan played their 'home' Intercontinental Cup fixture against Ireland at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Sri Lanka. Following Afghanistan's World Twenty20 qualifying campaign they played two One Day Internationals against Canada at the Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium in the UAE.^[91]

As plans to resurrect Afghan cricket developed, at least three international standard cricket stadiums have been built in Afghanistan. In 2016, Shahid Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida became the home ground for the Afghanistan national cricket team after they decided to shift their home ground from Sharjah.^[92][93][94] In June 2018, after acquiring test status, Afghanistan changed their home base to Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Dehradun, India.^[95] In May 2019, Afghanistan Cricket Board requested BCCI for a new home stadium.^[96] In August 2019, BCCI approved Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, India as the new home stadium for the team.^[97]

The following are the main cricket stadiums in Afghanistan:

• Alokozay Kabul International Cricket Ground in Kabul
• Ghazi Amanullah International Cricket Stadium in Ghazi Amanullah Town, Jalalabad
• Ahmad Shahi Stadium in Kandahar
• Kandahar International Cricket Stadium in Kandahar
• Khost Cricket Stadium in Khost

Secondary Home Grounds (outside Afghanistan)^[98]

• Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium, Sharjah (2010–2016)
• Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex, Greater Noida (2017)
• Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Dehradun (2018–2019)
• Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow (2019)
• Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi (2021)

In Test matches, Afghanistan wears cricket whites. Fielders wear a baggy red cap or red sun hat displaying the ACB logo.

In limited-overs cricket, Afghanistan wears a predominantly blue kit with splashes of green, red, black, and, occasionally, yellow. Grey^[99] was previously used as the main color between 2012-2013. Fielders wear a blue baseball-style cap^[100] or red sun hat.

For both Test and limited-overs kits, the ACB logo is featured on the left breast, with the main sponsor logo in the center of the shirt. The secondary sponsor is displayed on the leading sleeve and back of the shirt, with the manufacturer's logo on the non-leading sleeve. For ICC tournaments, the main sponsor logo moves to the leading sleeve.

Previously also red, batters' helmets are blue as of late February 2024,^[101] with the Afghanistan tricolor flag displayed above the ACB logo.

The current sponsors are Etisalat^[102] and Super Cola^[103] (previously Monarch Mart and Alokozay Group); the kit manufacturer is TYKA Sports.^[104]

This lists all the players who have played for Afghanistan in the past 12 months or was named in the most recent Test, ODI or T20I squad. Uncapped players are listed in italics.

Updated: 18 March 2024

Name	Age	Batting style	Bowling style	FC Team [105]	List A Team [106]	T20 Team [107]	Forms	S/N	Captain	Last Test	Last ODI	Last T20I
Batters
Ibrahim Zadran	22	Right-handed	Right-arm medium-fast	Mis Ainak	Hindukush Strikers	Mis Ainak	Test, ODI, T20I	18	T20I (VC)	2024	2024	2024
Hashmatullah Shahidi	29	Left-handed	Right-arm off break	Band-e-Amir	Maiwand Defenders	Band-e-Amir	Test, ODI	50	Test, ODI (C)	2024	2024	2022
Rahmat Shah	31	Right-handed	Right-arm leg break	Mis Ainak	Pamir Legends	Boost	Test, ODI	8	Test, ODI (VC)	2024	2024	2024
Nasir Jamal	30	Right-handed	Right-arm leg break	Maiwand Champions	Band-e-Amir	Boost	Test	33		2024	2018	—
Noor Ali Zadran	35	Right-handed	—	Mah-e-Par Stars	Maiwand Defenders		Test	15		2024	2019	2023
Najibullah Zadran	31	Left-handed	Right-arm off break		Hindukush Strikers	Boost	ODI, T20I	1		—	2023	2024
Abdul Malik	26	Right-handed	Right-arm off break	Mah-e-Par Stars	Amo	Amo	Test	20		2023	—	—
Bahir Shah	24	Right-handed	Right-arm off break	Hindukush Strikers	Speen-Ghar	Speen-Ghar	Test	86		2023	—	—
Hazratullah Zazai	26	Left-handed	—		Pamir Legends	Boost	T20I	3		—	2019	2024
Sediqullah Atal	22	Left-handed	—	Pamir Legends	Band-e-Amir	Band-e-Amir	T20I	26		—	—	2024
Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai	21	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	Maiwand Champions	Amo	Amo	T20I	55		—	—	2024
Riaz Hassan	21	Right-handed	—		Pamir Legends	Band-e-Amir	ODI	76		—	2023	—
All-rounders
Karim Janat	25	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	Band-e-Amir	Band-e-Amir	Band-e-Amir	Test, ODI, T20I	11		2024	2023	2024
Mohammad Nabi	39	Right-handed	Right-arm off break			Kabul Eagles	ODI, T20I	7		2019	2024	2024
Azmatullah Omarzai	24	Right-handed	Right-arm medium-fast		Maiwand Defenders	Kabul Eagles	ODI, T20I	9		—	2024	2024
Gulbadin Naib	33	Right-handed	Right-arm medium-fast		Pamir Legends	Amo	ODI, T20I	14		—	2024	2024
Nangeyalia Kharote	20	Left-handed	Slow left-arm orthodox	Hindukush Strikers	Boost	Boost	ODI, T20I	12		—	2024	2024
Wicket-keepers
Rahmanullah Gurbaz	22	Right-handed	—	Kabul	Mis Ainak	Kabul Eagles	Test, ODI, T20I	21		2024	2024	2024
Ikram Alikhil	23	Left-handed	—	Band-e-Amir	Maiwand Defenders	Band-e-Amir	Test, ODI	46		2024	2024	—
Mohammad Ishaq	19	Right-handed	—	Mah-e-Par Stars	Boost	Amo	T20I	27		—	—	2024
Spin Bowlers
Zahir Khan	25	Left-handed	Left-arm wrist spin	Maiwand Champions	Mis Ainak	Amo	Test	75		2024	2019	2023
Zia-ur-Rehman	26	Right-handed	Slow left-arm orthodox	Mah-e-Par Stars	Mis Ainak	Mis Ainak	Test	22		2024	2023	—
Mujeeb Ur Rahman	23	Right-handed	Right-arm off break		Hindukush Stars	Hindukush Stars	ODI, T20I	88		2018	2023	2024
Qais Ahmad	23	Right-handed bat	Right-arm leg break		Maiwand Defenders	Speen-Ghar	T20I	32		2024	2024	2024
Rashid Khan	25	Right-handed	Right-arm leg break			Band-e-Amir Dragons	ODI, T20I	19	T20I (C)	2021	2023	2024
Noor Ahmad	19	Right-handed	Left-arm wrist spin		Mis Ainak	Band-e-Amir Dragons	ODI, T20I	15		—	2024	2024
Allah Ghazanfar	16	Right-handed	Right-arm off break		Junior Champions	Mis Ainak Knights	ODI	70		—	2024	—
Khalil Gurbaz		Right-handed	Right-arm leg break	Pamir Legends	Mis Ainak	Mis Ainak	Test			—	—	—
Pace Bowlers
Nijat Masood	25	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	Mah-e-Par Stars	Band-e-Amir	Band-e-Amir	Test	12		2024	—	2022
Fazalhaq Farooqi	23	Right-handed	Left-arm fast-medium		Amo	Boost Defenders	ODI, T20I	5		—	2024	2024
Naveed Zadran	19	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	Hindukush Strikers	Mis Ainak	Mis Ainak	Test, ODI	58		2024	2024	—
Fareed Ahmad	29	Left-handed	Left-arm fast-medium		Pamir Legends	Speen-Ghar	ODI, T20I	56		—	2024	2024
Naveen-ul-Haq	24	Right-handed	Right-arm medium-fast			Kabul Eagles	T20I	78		—	2023	2024
Wafadar Momand	24	Right-handed	Right-arm medium		Band-e-Amir	Band-e-Amir	T20I	14		2019	—	2024
Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai	25	Right-handed	Right-arm fast-medium	Hindukush Strikers	Speen-Ghar	Speen-Ghar	Test			—	—	—
Bilal Sami	21	Right-handed	Right-arm fast	Maiwand Champions	Amo	Band-e-Amir	ODI	68		—	—	—

International match summary – Afghanistan^{[108][109][110]}

Last updated 26 June 2024.

• Highest team total: 545/4 v. Zimbabwe, 11 March 2021 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium^[111]
• Lowest team total: 103 v. India, 14 June 2018 at Bangalore^[112]

Highest Test scores for Afghanistan^[115]

Player	Runs	Opposition	Venue	Year
Hashmatullah Shahidi	200*	Zimbabwe	Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi	2021
Asghar Afghan	164	Zimbabwe	Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi	2021
Ibrahim Zadran	114	Sri Lanka	Singhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground, Colombo	2024
Rahmat Shah	102	Bangladesh	Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong	2019
Rahmat Shah	98	Ireland	Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Dehradun	2019

Best Test bowling figures for Afghanistan^[116]

Bowler	Figures	Opposition	Venue	Year
Rashid Khan	7/137	Zimbabwe	Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi	2021
Rashid Khan	6/49	Bangladesh	Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong	2019
Amir Hamza	6/75	Zimbabwe	Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi	2021
Rashid Khan	5/55	Bangladesh	Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong	2019
Zia-ur-Rehman	5/64	Ireland	Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi	2024

Opponent	Matches	Won	Lost	Draw	Tied	% Won	First	Last
Bangladesh	2	1	1	0	0	50.00	2019	2023
India	1	0	1	0	0	0.00	2018	2018
Ireland	2	1	1	0	0	50.00	2019	2024
Sri Lanka	1	0	1	0	0	0.00	2024	2024
West Indies	1	0	1	0	0	0.00	2019	2019
Zimbabwe	2	1	1	0	0	50.00	2021	2021
Total	9	3	6	0	0	33.33	2018	2024
Statistics are correct as of Afghanistan v Ireland at Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi, Only Test, 28 February – 1 March 2024.[117]

• Highest team total: 339/6 v. Sri Lanka, 9 February 2024 at Pallekelle^[118]
• Lowest team 58 v. Zimbabwe, 2 January 2016 at Sharjah^[119]

Highest ODI scores for Afghanistan^[122]

Player	Runs	Opposition	Venue	Year
Ibrahim Zadran	162	Sri Lanka	Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele	2022
Rahmanullah Gurbaz	151	Pakistan	Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Sooriyawewa	2023
Azmatullah Omarzai	149*	Sri Lanka	Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele	2024
Rahmanullah Gurbaz	145	Bangladesh	Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong	2023
Mohammad Nabi	136	Sri Lanka	Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele	2024

Best ODI bowling figures for Afghanistan^[123]

Bowler	Figures	Opposition	Venue	Year
Rashid Khan	7/18	West Indies	Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet	2017
Rashid Khan	6/43	Ireland	Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground, Greater Noida	2017
Gulbadin Naib	6/43	Ireland	Stormont Cricket Ground, Belfast	2019
Mohammad Nabi	5/17	Ireland	Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah	2024
Rashid Khan	5/24	Zimbabwe	Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah	2018

Opponent	Matches	Won	Lost	Tied	No Result	% Won	First	Last
Full Members
Australia	4	0	4	0	0	0.00	2012	2023
Bangladesh	16	6	10	0	0	37.50	2014	2023
England	3	1	2	0	0	33.33	2015	2023
India	4	0	3	1	0	0.00	2014	2023
Ireland	32	18	13	0	1	58.06	2010	2024
New Zealand	3	0	3	0	0	0.00	2015	2023
Pakistan	8	1	7	0	0	12.50	2012	2023
South Africa	2	0	2	0	0	0.00	2019	2023
Sri Lanka	15	4	10	0	1	28.57	2014	2024
West Indies	9	3	5	0	1	37.50	2017	2019
Zimbabwe	28	18	10	0	0	64.28	2014	2022
Associate Members
Canada	5	4	1	0	0	80.00	2010	2011
Hong Kong	2	1	1	0	0	50.00	2014	2018
Kenya	6	4	2	0	0	66.66	2010	2013
Netherlands	10	8	2	0	0	80.00	2009	2023
Scotland	13	8	4	0	1	66.66	2009	2019
United Arab Emirates	6	3	3	0	0	50.00	2014	2018
Total	165	78	82	1	4	48.75	2009	2024
Statistics are correct as of Afghanistan v Ireland at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, 3rd ODI, 12 March 2024.[124]

• 12 consecutive wins, a record in the men's T20Is (5 February 2018 - 15 September 2019).^[125]
• Highest team total: 278/3 v. Ireland, 23 February 2019, at Dehradun^[126]
• Lowest team total: 56 v. South Africa, 26 June 2024, at Tarouba^[127]
• Highest individual score: 162*, Hazratullah Zazai v. Ireland, 23 February 2019, at Dehradun^[128]
• Best individual bowling figures: 5/3, Rashid Khan v. Ireland, 10 March 2017 at Greater Noida^[129]

Opponent	Matches	Won	Lost	Tied	No Result	% Won	First	Last
Full Members
Australia	2	1	1	0	0	50.00	2022	2024
Bangladesh	12	7	5	0	0	58.33	2014	2024
England	3	0	3	0	0	0.00	2012	2022
India	9	0	7	1	1	12.50	2010	2024
Ireland	26	18	7	1	0	71.15	2010	2024
New Zealand	2	1	1	0	0	50.00	2021	2024
Pakistan	7	3	4	0	0	42.85	2013	2023
South Africa	3	0	3	0	0	0.00	2010	2024
Sri Lanka	8	3	5	0	0	37.50	2016	2024
West Indies	8	3	5	0	0	37.50	2016	2024
Zimbabwe	15	14	1	0	0	93.33	2015	2022
Associate Members
Canada	2	2	0	0	0	100	2010	2012
Hong Kong	5	3	2	0	0	60.00	2014	2016
Kenya	3	2	1	0	0	66.66	2013	2013
Namibia	1	1	0	0	0	100	2021	2021
Nepal	1	0	1	0	0	00.00	2014	2014
Netherlands	4	2	2	0	0	50.00	2010	2015
Oman	5	5	0	0	0	100	2016	2022
Papua New Guinea	2	2	0	0	0	100	2015	2024
Scotland	7	7	0	0	0	100	2010	2021
United Arab Emirates	12	9	3	0	0	75.00	2015	2024
Uganda	1	1	0	0	0	100	2024	2024
Total	138	84	51	2	1	62.04	2010	2024
Statistics are correct as of Afghanistan v South Africa at Brian Lara Cricket Academy, San Fernando, 26 June 2024.[132]

Year	Round	Played	Won	Tied	Lost	Captain
1975	Not eligible – not an ICC Member
1979
1983
1987
1992
1996
1999
2003	Not an ICC Member at time of qualifying
2007	Did not qualify
2011
2015	Group stage	6	1	0	5	Mohammad Nabi
2019	Group stage	9	0	0	9	Gulbadin Naib
2023	Group stage	9	4	0	5	Hashmatullah Shahidi
Total	Group stage	24	5	0	19	–

• 1979–2001: Not eligible, not an ICC Member
• 2005: Did not qualify^[133]
• 2009: 5th place^[44]
• 2018: Champions

T20 World Cup record
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	L	T	NR
2007	Did not qualify
2009
2010[134]	Group Stage	12/12	2	0	2	0	0
2012		11/12	2	0	2	0	0
2014		14/16	3	1	2	0	0
2016	Super 10	9/16	7	4	3	0	0
2021	Super 12	7/16	5	2	3	0	0
2022	Super 12	12/16	5	0	3	0	2
2024	Semi-finals	3/20	8	5	3	0	0
Total	Semi-finals (2024)	3/20 (2024)	32	12	18	0	2

ICC Champions Trophy record
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	L	T	NR
1998	Not an ICC member
2000
2002
2004	Did not qualify
2006
2009
2013
2017
2025	Qualified
2029	TBD

• 2009: Not eligible, not an ODI nation at time of tournament^[15]
• 2010: Winners^[50]
• 2012: Runners-up
• 2013: Runners-up
• 2015: 5th position

• 2009–10: Winners^[53]
• 2011–13: Runners-up
• 2015-17: Winners

• 2008
  • Division Five winners^[37]
  • Division Four winners^[15]
• 2009
  • Division Three winners^[40]
• 2010
  • Division One 3rd Place^[55]
• 2011–13
  • Championship Runners Up

Asian Games record[56]
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	L	T	NR
2010	Silver Medal	2/9	3	2	1	0	0
2014	Silver Medal	2/10	3	2	1	0	0
2022	Silver Medal	2/14	3	2	0	0	1
Total	Silver Medal	2nd	9	6	2	0	1

Asia Cup record[15]
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	L	T	NR
1984	Not eligible — Not an ICC Member
1986
1988
1990–91
1995
1997
2000
2004	Did not qualify
2008
2010
2012
2014	Group stage	4/5	4	1	3	0	0
2016	Did not qualify
2018	Super Fours	4/6	5	2	2	1	0
2022		4/6	5	2	3	0	0
2023	Group Stage	5/6	2	0	2	0	0
Total	Super Fours (2018, 2022)		16	5	10	1	0

• 2014: Winners

• 1996–2002: Not eligible, not an ACC Member.^[15]
• 2004: 6th place^[36]
• 2006: 3rd place^[36]
• 2008: 3rd place (Elite)^[15]
• 2010: Winners (Elite)^[15]

Year	Round	Position	GP	W	L	T	NR
2007[36]	Joint champion with Oman	1/10	6	4	1	1	0
2009	Champion [46]	1/12	7	7	0	0	0
2011	Champion	1/10	6	6	0	0	0
2013	Champion	1/10	6	5	1	0	0
2015	Did not participate

• 2014: 4th place
• 2017: Winners

• 2017: Winners

• 2006: Runners-up^[36]

• Asian Games
  • Silver Medal (3): 2010, 2014, 2022

• Cricket in Afghanistan
• Afghanistan at the Cricket World Cup
• Afghanistan women's national cricket team
• List of Afghanistan Test cricketers
• List of Afghanistan ODI cricketers
• List of Afghanistan T20I cricketers
• List of Afghanistan first-class cricketers
• Afghan national cricket captains
• List of Afghanistan Twenty20 International cricket records
• Afghanistan A cricket team
• Out of the Ashes (2010 film), a 2010 documentary film
• Afghanistan–Pakistan cricket rivalry

• "Afghanistan". International Cricket Council.
• "Home". Afghanistan Cricket news site.
• "Home". Afghanistan Cricket Official website (archived). Archived from the original on 18 February 2010.
• "Home". Afghanistan National Cricket Board.
• "Home". Afghanistan national cricket team History. 5 January 2020.