Afghanistan national cricket team’s journey against England cricket team has been full of surprises and delight. Starting as an Associate nation and progressing through to becoming one of global-elegance opposition has inspired thousands of supporters worldwide.
Their 2023 World Cup win against England represented more than just an idyllic dream: it demonstrated how powerful cricket can be as an instrument of social transformation and democratic empowerment in the Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs England Cricket Team Timeline.
| Date | Tournament | Venue | Result | Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 26, 2025 | ICC Champions Trophy | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore | Afghanistan won by 8 runs | Ibrahim Zadran (177 runs) |
| Oct 15, 2023 | ICC Cricket World Cup | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | Afghanistan won by 69 runs | Mujeeb Ur Rahman (3/51 & 28 runs) |
| Jun 18, 2019 | ICC Cricket World Cup | Old Trafford, Manchester | England won by 150 runs | Eoin Morgan (148 runs) |
Afghanistan’s rise from underdogs to global-beaters
Afghanistan’s rise through international cricket has captured the imaginations of tens of thousands of fans around the globe.
Their journey from refugee camps to world-beaters serves as a testament to sport’s ability to inspire and unite nations, and also illustrates that cricket has become a truly global game with skills emerging from any corner of the planet.
Afghanistan earned their inaugural qualification into a World Twenty20 Qualifier tournament in 2010, where they went undefeated through all their group matches and ended up defeating Ireland in the fifth place playoff match to earn a spot in the 2021 World Cup qualifier tournament. Afghanistan’s performance during this event marked a key moment, as it marked their first win against a full member team outside their Affiliate or Associate member groups.
The following year, they were invited to play their inaugural ODI series against Zimbabwe and even though they struggled against their full member opponents, it proved a tremendously valuable tour for their nation as it marked their first opportunity since becoming an Affiliate Member in 2011.
Soon after, they were promoted to compete in the ICC T20 world cup hosted in India, failing to make the semi-finals but making headlines with their performance against Namibia and Canada, earning themselves an honorable seventh-place finish in this international competition.
Afghanistan made history after winning their T20 world cup debut by going on to defeat multiple International Cricket Council full members – Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Their victories marked the first time an Affiliate or Associate nation had defeated four other ICC full members at one event with both T20s and ODIs being won against each of them!
2023 and 2024 saw South Korea continue its dominance of international cricket by scoring impressive victories in both ODI and T20 ICC Champions Trophy matches, earning some incredible wins against full member teams such as England and India despite their low rankings.
Now, Pakistan will face off with England again in a crucial ODI and Champions Trophy match at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on February 26. Both sides have experienced early losses in competition but hope to turn their fortunes around with this high-stakes encounter.
England’s steady legacy
England and Afghanistan share an extraordinary history, one that spans both determination and evolution.
Over multiple World Cups and tournaments, their sides have put on captivating displays of hunger against experience in tight encounters that show the best of each team’s capabilities in high-pressure conditions. Their upcoming ODI will offer both sides ample chance to showcase their respective abilities.
Afghanistan and England first engaged in battle during the 2012 ICC T20 World Cup. The match proved an intense test of batting prowess versus England’s advanced bowling; though Afghanistan faced early loss, their perseverance and strength eventually saw rewards come through late innings.
This match illustrated how cricket has brought people from diverse places together while encouraging sportsmanship across generations.
At the 2024-2025 ICC Champions Trophy, teams faced each other in another epic contest. It proved both teams’ endurance, as they showed they could win under pressure conditions.
Ibrahim Zadran scored an outstanding 177 runs off 146 balls to claim Man of the Match honors and help Afghanistan amass a respectable 317 total for some wicket losses; but England was able to chase this target down within 18 overs!
Even after slow starts to the tournament, both Afghanistan and England have shown signs of improvement.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board remains optimistic that its team can achieve its goals for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy; currently they are competing in ODIs against ranked teams; their next game against Pakistan will be crucial; winning will keep hopes alive of reaching the semi-finals alive; the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore will host this match, where batsmen should expect an advantageous pitch; both sides are coming off losses in opening matches so this game should provide an excellent indicator of where both teams stand as progress has made this year.
Afghanistan’s fearless cricket
Afghanistan’s success story is more than an inspiring fairytale; it’s a testament to cricket’s power to unite people and transform lives. From refugee camps to world champions in just a few short years, Afghanistan has left an impactful mark.
Their win against England in 2023 not only increased pride across their nation, but it demonstrated how talent can come from any corner of the globe.
Afghan cricket has made incredible strides over the past two years and made major sides take notice, reaching the summit of global game in just two years and forcing giants like India and Australia to pay attention. Now poised for another knockout spot and primed for another massive upset.
Afghanistan cricket fans are currently enjoying both an exhilarating and daunting experience. Although the Taliban banned women’s sports and restricted some men’s, cricket remained exempt from their influence – so Afghanistan’s incredible victories at both the 2023 World Cup and Champions Trophy have brought immense happiness to a nation torn by conflict.
Cricket matches between Pakistan and England have captured fans across the nation, even those living in remote regions. Cricket has become an invaluable symbol of family pride and national unity; even those living in tents are eagerly awaiting every match as part of national pride and unification.
Commentator Mohammad Ibrahim Momand reports receiving hundreds of phone calls and texts from fans eagerly anticipating watching even if they cannot actually watch live matches themselves.
Social media has also witnessed this event’s dramatic transformation, where supporters from both teams have engaged in lively debates and predictions involving one another. Their rivalry has added another layer to this historic occasion and set the scene for future clashes between two fiercely competitive nations.
Both teams will face challenging matches in the coming matches, yet will be buoyed by their enthusiastic home crowds. Fans in stadiums across the country will wave flags, sing songs and celebrate every boundary and wicket; these fans will be joined by avid cricket fans from around the globe who want to watch their heroes battle against some of the finest talent that the sport can provide.
England’s tenacity
England was victorious on their inaugural tour to South Africa in 1913-14 with Syd Barnes taking 49 wickets – but due to World War I the series was abandoned after four matches, and only Herbie Taylor at Kingsmead Durban managed an innings beyond 200 runs in his team innings.
After World War II ended in 1946, England faced difficulty returning to Test cricket until 1947 when Wally Hammond led them to victory against Australia, with Denis Compton scoring 1,187 runs during that series. England would wait almost another decade before winning their inaugural International Cricket Council Twenty20 trophy against Australia and winning 2010 tournament.
Afghanistan made history when they became the first country ever to qualify for ICC Champions Trophy with a victory over England at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe on 30 December – winning 217/0!
Both Afghanistan and England have provided memorable games in international cricket over the years, particularly due to their relentless tenacity.
While England’s early and mid 2000s batting struggles drew criticism, they found new heights under Nasser Hussain and Michael Vaughan when they won an iconic 2005 Ashes series victory under them led by Kevin Pietersen himself. At this time they also adopted an attacking philosophy called Bazball which earned them recognition as one of the premier T20 sides worldwide.
