Afghanistan’s rise from refugee camps to world-class opposition has inspired tens of thousands. Their 2023 victory over England boosted national pride, but additionally served as a reminder of the democratization of cricket and its growth as an international sport.
Following the tournament, Afghanistan was granted ODI status, becoming the first affiliate member to do so. In April 2013, the ICC awarded them $422,000 in support, the largest grant ever given to an Associate member.
This milestone is often referenced in the Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs England Cricket Team Match Scorecard, highlighting Afghanistan’s rapid rise and growing competitiveness against established cricketing nations.
| Date | Tournament | Afghanistan Score | England Score | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Feb 2025 | ICC Champions Trophy 2025 | 325/7 (50 ov) | 317 all out (49.5 ov) | AFG won by 8 runs | Lahore |
| 15 Oct 2023 | ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 | 284 (50 ov) | 215 (40.3 ov) | AFG won by 69 runs | Delhi |
| 18 Jun 2019 | ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 | 247/8 (50 ov) | 397/6 (50 ov) | ENG won by 150 runs | Manchester |
| 13 Mar 2015 | ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 | 111/7 (36.2 ov) | 101/1 (18.1 ov) | ENG won by 9 wickets | Sydney |
| 22 Oct 2022 | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 | 112 (19.4 ov) | 113/5 (18.1 ov) | ENG won by 5 wickets | Perth |
ODIs
The ODI series between England and Afghanistan has been a source of excitement. Both teams are ranked in the top five of the world and have a chance to advance to the knockout stage of the tournament.
This game is important for both sides because it will help them gain momentum and secure a place in the quarter-finals. However, the result will likely be a close contest.
In this match, England will need to win by at least three wickets to ensure their progress to the next round.
The history of this rivalry is a testament to cricket’s democratization and the sport’s ability to transcend war-torn regions.
The two teams first met in 2012 when Afghanistan was still navigating associate cricket’s challenges, while England regularly competed in international competition’s elite circles.
Despite this huge gap in experience, the Afghans’ fearless approach and rapid development created a rivalry that has yielded some of the sport’s most memorable upsets.
Although the 2023 World Cup match ended in a disappointing defeat for England, it marked an important milestone for Afghanistan.
It proved that they are a competitive force and can challenge anyone on their day. It also validated their cricket journey and provided a sense of redemption after a dismal 2018 World Cup campaign.
This match featured a fierce opening assault from both teams. England’s batting was led by Eoin Morgan, who hammered 17 sixes and 148 off 71 balls.
Afghanistan’s bowlers endured an onslaught of boundary threats and a punishing scoring rate, but they fought back well. They held their nerve and completed a respectable 247/8 in their 50 overs.
The England batsmen struggled to cope with Afghanistan’s spin attack, and the required rate kept climbing. But the batting of Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow finally came good as they put on a 92-run partnership.
But the collapse of England’s middle order was a reminder that defending a low total is harder than it looks. Afghanistan’s spinners, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan, put the brakes on England’s run chase and prevented them from catching up.
T20Is
The Afghanistan national cricket team is a professional Twenty20 international cricket side. The team is based in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan.
The team plays Twenty20 internationals for both the ICC and its associate members. It also competes in the ICC World Cup Qualifier.
The team has played five ODIs and eight T20Is, with their first victory coming in their second ODI against the Netherlands in 2012.
After winning the match, Afghanistan became the only non-Test-playing nation to win an ICC T20I match. This was a significant moment in the history of Afghan cricket, and it showed the potential of the team to become a top-tier cricket nation.
In the aftermath of this win, Afghanistan received a hero’s welcome from their home country. The victory symbolized a newfound spirit of unity in the nation after decades of war.
In the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, Afghanistan won all of their group matches and defeated Namibia in the quarterfinals to make their first-ever ICC T20 final.
They then lost to South Africa in the final. In the following ICC T20 Qualifiers, Afghanistan finished second in their group to earn one-day international status for the 2020 ICC World Cup.
The 2024 tournament was the first time that Afghanistan competed in a major international event since the end of the Taliban regime.
Their performance in the competition boosted the team’s image amongst fans and other stakeholders, making it a top-ranked ICC T20I team in the world.
During the 2024 tournament, the Afghanistan national cricket team surpassed their previous record of most runs scored in a T20 international by scoring 259 in the second match against South Africa.
They also made the highest-ever T20I total in a World Cup semi-final, beating England by four wickets to advance to the final.
The team was largely inspired by Naveed Zadran, who scored 177 to help the Afghans overcome a sluggish start.
He was ably supported by Mohammad Shahzad, who hit two sixes and five boundaries. The pair put on a 185-run partnership for the third wicket before Shahzad was bowled by Jofra Archer in the 50th over, ending his remarkable innings.
Tests
England and Afghanistan haven’t played many tests against each other, but the games they have played have been important and occasionally surprising.
The teams are very different from one another, with England relying on its experienced players and a more structured approach to the game.
Afghanistan, on the other hand, is a team that relies on the skill of its young players and an intense culture of discipline.
Despite their differences, the teams have been able to put together some strong performances in limited-overs cricket.
The most notable result was their 2023 World Cup clash, which was a high-scoring affair and the first time that Afghanistan had ever defeated England in a T20I match.
The match was an exciting contest that shook the world of cricket.
Afghanistan’s batting is built around partnerships and a willingness to take risks in pressure situations. This style allows them to score more runs than most other teams, especially in T20Is.
They also have a good understanding of how to manage pitches with slower pace, which has helped them to deal with the more physical elements of English bowling.
England’s batting, on the other hand, is much more predictable and largely based on power hitting. Their top order often scores big hundreds and quick fifties, making them dangerous opponents in a T20I.
In the past, England has always had a clear advantage over Afghanistan in ODIs, but that gap narrowed over the years as Afghanistan improved and the two sides started to play more matches against each other.
In addition, the quality of the Afghanistan’s spinners has been a significant factor in their success against England.
England’s batting has struggled to deal with the spinners, especially on slow pitches, and the ODI results have shown that Afghanistan is a strong challenger in this format.
During the 2023 World Cup, Afghanistan had some of the best fielding in the tournament, including outstanding catches and ground coverage.
This performance helped them to close the gap in ODIs between the two sides and inspired other associate nations. It also showed that a new nation can compete with established teams with skill, planning, and confidence.
ICC World Cup
In the ICC World Cup 2026, Afghanistan and England faced off in four matches. Both teams won two games and tied twice.
This was the first time that Afghanistan and England met in a World Cup match. The game was a thrilling contest that highlighted the strengths of each team. Both teams displayed excellent batting and bowling performances.
Afghanistan’s batting lineup is a force to be reckoned with in the future. The emergence of Afghanistan as one of the top cricketing nations is a remarkable story of determination and concept.
The team is coached by Lalchand Rajput and led by Sher Bahadurzada. It is a young and enthusiastic team, which is making rapid strides in international cricket.
Its performances in the ICC Champions Trophy and ODIs have been impressive. The team has the potential to become a global power in the game of cricket, and the next few years will be crucial for them.
Afghanistan’s batting attack is led by Mohammad Nabi, Shakib al-Hasan, and Mohammad Shahzad. These players are known for their powerful hitting and shrewd captaincy.
The bowlers are also very good, and they often produce economical spells.
In addition to their batting and bowling, the team has an excellent fielding unit. They are well organized and aggressive on the field, which makes them a dangerous side. The team’s upcoming tournament schedule includes matches against Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Despite being ranked 117th in the ICC rankings, Afghanistan is capable of defeating higher-ranked teams. They have beaten Australia and Bangladesh in the past.
They also defeated Zimbabwe in the ICC World Twenty20 qualifier to qualify for the main tournament.
This is the first time that Afghanistan has played in the ICC World Cup. The team’s performance in the tournament is encouraging, and they will improve with every outing.
The team has a number of experienced players, including Mohammad Nabi, who has played 24 World Cup matches.
This is the most by any player. He is joined by Gulbadin Naib and Hashmatullah Shahidi, who have both played in nine matches.
