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The Afghanistan men’s national cricket team represents Afghanistan in international cricket and is a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The men’s team holds the Test, One-Day International (ODI), and T20 International (T20I) status. 

The Afghanistan cricket team was administered by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (AFG), which was established in 1995. The governing body acquired affiliate membership with the ICC in 2001 and joined the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in 2003. Meanwhile, Afghanistan was granted full ICC membership and Test status on June 22, 2017, making it the twelfth Test-playing nation. 

In February 2017, the ICC awarded first-class status to Afghanistan’s four-day domestic competition. The team which currently ranks 10th in T20I cricket, holds the world record for the second-highest T20I score, with 278/3 against Ireland on February 23, 2019.

After the Taliban took over the country in 2021, there were concerns regarding the safety of Afghan cricketers, raising doubts about the team’s future participation in international matches. The team is currently locating its home ground to Dehradun, India, and plays primarily at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the United arab Emirates. Additionally, Taliban spokesmen previously assured that the team would not be disrupted.  

History

Pre-ODI history

Cricket Afghanistan gained popularity during the 1980s and 1990s, influenced by the post-Soviet invasion period. Numerous early players of the Afghanistan team grew up and started playing in the domestic cricket system in Pakistan. In 1995, the Afghanistan Cricket Federation (now ACB) was established. Later, the Taliban banned Afghanistan from playing cricket but became an exception in 2000, making it the only sport permitted. 

In 2001, the Afghanistan Cricket Federation gained recognition from the International Cricket Council (ICC). Afghanistan debuted in Pakistan’s domestic competitions during the 2001–02 season, taking part in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

Afghanistan men’s team started competing in Asian regional tournaments in 2004 and finished sixth in their first ACC Trophy. In 2006, they emerged as runners-up in the Middle East Cup. In the same year, they toured England and won six out of seven matches.

Afghanistan clinched their first tournament in 2007, sharing the ACC Twenty20 Cup with Oman. Meanwhile, they began their qualifying campaign for the 2011 World Cup in Jersey in 2008, triumphing in Division Five of the World Cricket League. In the following year, they progressed to the 2009 World Cup Qualifier after winning Division Three of the World Cricket League.

In 2010, they secured a 22-run win over second-string Pakistan in the semi-finals of the Asian Games. Meanwhile, they struggled during the tours to Pakistan in 2011, losing a limited-overs series 3–0 and all matches in the National T20 Cup.

ODI status

Afghanistan earned ODI status for four years during the 2011 Cricket World Cup qualifying tournament, with their first ODI against Scotland, which they won by 89 runs. They have clinched the 2009 ACC Twenty20 Cup with an 84-run win against the UAE. Meanwhile, they played their first T20 International against Ireland on February 1, 2010, losing by 5 wickets. 

Afghanistan later earned qualification for the 2010 ICC World Twenty20. In the tournament, Afghanistan competed in Group C, facing India and South Africa, but lost both matches. In the Intercontinental Cup in 2010, Afghanistan overcame Ireland, Canada, Scotland, and Kenya, culminating in a final victory over Scotland by 7 wickets. Additionally, they triumphed in the ACC Trophy Elite tournament in 2010, defeating Nepal in the final.

Afghanistan secured a silver medal in cricket in the 2010 Asian Games, finishing as runners-up to Bangladesh. On February 10, 2012, they played their first official ODI against Pakistan, which they lost by seven wickets. Afghanistan won both T20 Internationals and ODIs against Scotland in 2013. In 2015, they secured qualification for the 2015 World Cup by finishing second in the World Cricket League Championship, with victories over Namibia and Kenya. Interestingly, on December 25, 2015, Afghanistan entered the top 10 of the ICC ODI rankings.

Associate Membership

Afghanistan became an Affiliate member of the International Cricket Council in 2001 and attained ODI status in 2009, which lasted until 2015. In 2012, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) nominated Afghanistan for Associate membership with the ICC. 

In March 2013, ACB signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to develop Afghanistan cricket in Afghanistan ahead of the 2015 World Cup. In April of the same year, the ACB received $422,000 from the ICC’s targeted assistance and performance programme, for developing competitive teams and backing the National Cricket Academy in Kabul. In June 2013, Afghanistan was granted Associate Membership during the ICC’s annual meeting in London.

Cricket World Cups

Afghanistan qualified for the 2015 Cricket World Cup and it marked a significant achievement for the team. They made their World Cup debut against Bangladesh at Manuka Oval in Canberra, losing it by 105 runs. They registered their first World Cup win against Scotland on February 26, 2015, outplaying the opponents by one wicket. Afghanistan had a disappointing campaign as they lost all remaining matches and were eventually knocked out in the opening round. They failed to excel in the 2019 World Cup as well, losing all games in the tournament.

Meanwhile, the 2023 World Cup in India was a game-changing campaign for Afghanistan. On October 15, 2023, they secured a historic 69-run victory against the then-defending champions England. The win marked their first against England and any reigning World Cup champion. Afghanistan then achieved their first-ever victory over Pakistan in ODI cricket during this tournament. On October 30, 2023, the team outplayed Sri Lanka by 7 wickets, marking their first World Cup win against the island nation. Following this win, they defeated the Netherlands, achieving three World Cup wins in a row.

Post-World Cup Tours

In December 2016, Afghanistan toured the UAE and whitewashed the three-match series. During September-October 2016, they played their first full series against a Test-playing nation other than Zimbabwe, losing a 3-match ODI series 2–1.

After a sixth-place finish in the 2023 ODI World Cup, Afghanistan won a five-match ODI series against Zimbabwe 3–2. They thus became the first non-Test-playing country to win a multi-game bilateral ODI series against a Test side. 

Test Status

The ICC awarded Afghanistan full Test status alongside Ireland on June 22, 2017. They played their first Test against India in June 2018, which they lost by an innings and 262 runs. In March 2019, they achieved their first victory in the game’s longest format against Ireland, which was just their second red-ball match. In September 2019, they outplayed Bangladesh by 224 runs in a one-off Test held in Chattogram. Rahmat Shah and cricketer Rashid Khan made history as the first players to score a ton and take 10 wickets in a Test match for Afghanistan, respectively.

Grounds

Due to ongoing security concerns, Afghanistan primarily plays their home matches outside the country. Notable venues include:

• Intercontinental Cup Matches: Played their home fixture against Ireland at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Sri Lanka.
• ODIs Against Canada: They hosted two One Day Internationals at the Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium in the UAE.

Main Cricket Stadiums in Afghanistan:

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

Secondary Home Grounds (Outside Afghanistan):

• Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium, Sharjah (2010–2016)
• Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex, Greater Noida (2017, 2024)
• 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 2016, the Shahid Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida became Afghanistan’s designated home ground. After achieving Test status they shifted to the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun in June 2018. In addition, in August 2019, the BCCI approved the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow as their new home venue.

Records

Test Matches

• Highest Team Total: 545/4 against Zimbabwe on 11 March 2021 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
• Lowest Team Total: 103 against India on 14 June 2018 at Bangalore.

One-Day Internationals (ODIs)

• Highest Team Total: 339/6 against Sri Lanka on 9 February 2024 at Pallekelle.
• Lowest Team Total: 58 against Zimbabwe on 2 January 2016 at Sharjah.

Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is)

• Consecutive Wins: 12, a record in men’s T20Is (from 5 February 2018 to 15 September 2019).
• Highest Team Total: 278/3 against Ireland on 23 February 2019 at Dehradun.
• Lowest Team Total: 56 against South Africa on 26 June 2024 at Tarouba.
• Highest Individual Score: 162* by Hazratullah Zazai against Ireland on 23 February 2019 at Dehradun.
• Best Individual Bowling Figures: 5/3 by Rashid Khan against Ireland on 10 March 2017 at Greater Noida.

Honours

Asian Games

• Silver Medal (3): 2010, 2014, 2022

Afghanistan Women’s National Cricket Team

The Afghanistan women’s national cricket team, established in 2010, represented Afghanistan in women’s international cricket. The team played only one tournament due to significant opposition from Islamist groups against women’s sports in the country.

In 2020, the Afghanistan Cricket Board awarded central contracts to 25 players, aiming to revive the women’s cricket team. Regrettably, it didn’t turn out successful as the team was dispersed after the Taliban offensive and the capture of Kabul in 2021, following the Taliban’s ban on women’s sports.

History

The Afghanistan women’s team was established in 2010 but was disbanded in 2014. They were scheduled to compete in the 2011 ACC Women’s Twenty20 Championship but withdrew due to social constraints. In 2012, the women’s team won a six-team tournament in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, finishing with four wins and one tie.

In November 2020, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) in an attempt to reform the team, awarded central contracts to 25 players but it was not successful. Later, the ACB had organized skills and fitness camps and trials for female players at the Alokozay Kabul International Cricket Ground. In April 2021, Afghanistan gained permanent Test and ODI status after ICC awarded it to all full-member women’s teams.

Following the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, concerns arose regarding the safety of women cricketers. It is reported that some players received threats from the Taliban, warning against playing cricket. According to Wikipedia, some players, including Roya Samim and her sisters, were in exile in Canada by the end of August 2021. As of April 2023, most of the players had reunited in Australia, echoing ongoing efforts to sustain women’s cricket in Afghanistan.