Afghanistan Cricket Team
About Afghanistan Cricket Team
Afghanistan National Cricket Team represents the country in international cricket and is governed by the Afghanistan Cricket Board. The team has risen from humble beginnings to become one of the most exciting and competitive teams in world cricket.
Afghanistan plays all three formats — Test, ODI, and T20I — and has captured the imagination of cricket fans worldwide with their passion, talent, and never-say-die attitude. The team's red and green jersey represents the national flag colors and the country's cricketing dreams.
Despite facing numerous challenges, Afghanistan cricket continues to grow and develop world-class players who compete at the highest level.
Afghanistan Cricket Team History
Humble Beginnings (2001–2009)
Afghanistan cricket began in refugee camps in Pakistan during the early 2000s. The team played their first official match in 2001 and quickly rose through the ranks of world cricket. They gained ICC affiliate status in 2009.
Rapid Rise: 2010–2015
Afghanistan's rise was meteoric. They qualified for the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 and the 2015 Cricket World Cup. The team produced world-class players like Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
Test Status & The 2018 Milestone
Afghanistan and Ireland were granted Test status by the ICC in 2017. Afghanistan played their first Test match in 2018 against India in Bengaluru. Despite the loss, it was a historic moment for Afghan cricket.
Modern Era: 2020 – Present
Afghanistan has become a force in T20 cricket, consistently competing against the world's best teams. They reached the semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup, showcasing their growth. Under the leadership of Hashmatullah Shahidi and Rashid Khan, the team continues to set new standards.
Current Afghanistan Squads 2026
Captain: Hashmatullah Shahidi
Captain: Hashmatullah Shahidi
Captain: Rashid Khan
Captain & Coaching Staff
Test & ODI Captain — Hashmatullah Shahidi
Hashmatullah Shahidi leads Afghanistan in Test and ODI formats. A technically sound batsman, Shahidi has been a consistent performer and a calming presence in the dressing room. His leadership has helped Afghanistan achieve significant milestones.
T20I Captain — Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan captains the T20I side and is one of the most exciting cricketers in the world. Known for his lethal leg-spin and explosive batting, Rashid has become a global superstar and a symbol of Afghanistan's cricketing rise.
Head Coach — Jonathan Trott
Jonathan Trott, the former England batsman, took over as head coach in 2024. His technical expertise and experience have helped develop Afghanistan's batting and overall game strategy.
Support Staff
- Assistant Coach: Raees Ahmadzai
- Bowling Coach: Dawlat Ahmadzai
- Batting Coach: Naved Malik
- Team Manager: Sharafuddin Ashraf
ICC Rankings
Team Rankings
| Format | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Test | #9 | 55 |
| ODI | #7 | 92 |
| T20I | #6 | 240 |
Top Ranked Afghanistan Players
- Test: Rashid Khan (#6 Bowler), Hashmatullah Shahidi (#18 Batter)
- ODI: Rashid Khan (#2 All-rounder), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (#8 Bowler)
- T20I: Rashid Khan (#1 All-rounder), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (#6 Batter)
🏆 Major ICC Tournament Performance
Tournament Performance Summary
- Cricket World Cup: Group Stage (2015, 2019, 2023)
- T20 World Cup: Semi-finals (2024), Super 8 (2022)
- Champions Trophy: Yet to qualify
- World Test Championship: Yet to qualify
Records & Achievements
Most Runs (All Formats)
- Mohammad Nabi: 5,000+ runs
- Hashmatullah Shahidi: 3,000+ runs
- Rahmat Shah: 3,000+ runs
Most Wickets (All Formats)
- Rashid Khan: 500+ wickets
- Mujeeb Ur Rahman: 250+ wickets
- Mohammad Nabi: 200+ wickets
Highest Team Scores
- ODI: 339/6 vs UAE (2014)
- T20I: 212/6 vs Scotland (2022)
- Test: 545/4 vs Zimbabwe (2021)
Notable Achievements
- First Test match against India (2018) in Bengaluru
- T20 World Cup semi-finalists (2024)
- First Test win against Zimbabwe (2021)
- Rashid Khan became the fastest to 100 ODI wickets (44 matches)
- Qualified for three Cricket World Cups (2015, 2019, 2023)
Home Stadiums
Kabul International Cricket Stadium
📍 Kabul, Afghanistan
Capacity: 6,000
Afghanistan's premier cricket venue and home to the national team.
Kandahar Cricket Stadium
📍 Kandahar, Afghanistan
Capacity: 5,000
An emerging venue in southern Afghanistan.
Nangarhar Cricket Stadium
📍 Nangarhar, Afghanistan
Capacity: 4,000
Hosts domestic and international matches in eastern Afghanistan.
Greater Noida Stadium
📍 Greater Noida, India
Capacity: 10,000
Afghanistan's neutral venue for international matches in India.
Recent Form & Upcoming Matches
Recent Results
- ✅ Afghanistan beat Pakistan by 3 wickets (T20I, May 2026)
- ✅ Afghanistan won ODI series vs Ireland (April 2026)
- ✅ Rashid Khan took 5/15 vs West Indies (T20I, March 2026)
Upcoming Matches
- 🟡 Afghanistan vs India — T20I Series, July 2026
- 🟡 Afghanistan vs West Indies — ODI Series, August 2026
- 🟡 Afghanistan vs Bangladesh — Test Series, September 2026
* Match dates and fixtures are subject to change. Stay tuned for official Afghanistan Cricket Board updates.
Famous Afghanistan Cricket Players
Rashid Khan
The world's leading T20 spinner and one of the most exciting cricketers in the world. Rashid holds the record for the fastest to 100 ODI wickets (44 matches) and has taken over 500 international wickets.
Mohammad Nabi
The veteran all-rounder has been the backbone of Afghan cricket since the early days. Nabi has over 5,000 runs and 200 wickets across all formats.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Afghanistan's mystery spinner, Mujeeb was the youngest player to take 100 ODI wickets. His variations have troubled batsmen worldwide.
Hashmatullah Shahidi
The current Test and ODI captain is a technically sound batsman who has led Afghanistan to historic victories and milestones.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz
The explosive wicketkeeper-batsman has been a standout performer in T20 cricket. He holds the record for the highest T20I score for Afghanistan (100*).
Interesting Facts about Afghanistan Cricket Team
- Refugee origins: Afghanistan cricket began in refugee camps in Pakistan in the early 2000s.
- Fastest to 100: Rashid Khan holds the record for the fastest to 100 ODI wickets (44 matches).
- Test debut: Afghanistan played their first Test match against India in 2018 in Bengaluru.
- Semi-final heroes: Afghanistan reached the T20 World Cup semi-finals in 2024, their best ICC tournament performance.
- Rashid Khan's record: Rashid is the only Afghan player to be ranked #1 in the ICC T20I bowlers' rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Hashmatullah Shahidi captains Afghanistan in Test and ODI formats, while Rashid Khan leads the T20I side.
Jonathan Trott is the head coach of the Afghanistan national cricket team.
Afghanistan gained Test status in 2017 alongside Ireland.
Rashid Khan is widely regarded as Afghanistan's best cricketer, ranked as the #1 T20I bowler and #1 All-rounder.
Afghanistan is currently ranked #6 in the ICC T20I rankings.
Rashid Khan is the current T20I captain of Afghanistan.
No, Afghanistan has not won any major ICC trophy but reached the T20 World Cup semi-finals in 2024.
Kabul International Cricket Stadium in Kabul is Afghanistan's premier cricket venue.
Rashid Khan is Afghanistan's highest wicket-taker with over 500 international wickets.
Afghanistan's highest ODI total is 339/6 against UAE in 2014.
Afghanistan Cricket was established in 2001 and gained ICC affiliate status in 2009.
Hashmatullah Shahidi is the current ODI captain of Afghanistan.
Afghanistan is often referred to as the "Afghan Tigers."
Afghanistan's best performance was reaching the T20 World Cup semi-finals in 2024.
Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi are Afghanistan's premier all-rounders across all formats.
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