Afghanistan Team

Six years after the Afghanistan Cricket Federation was formed, the International Cricket Council (ICC) granted the Afghanistan cricket team an affiliate membership in 2001. Two years later, the country became a member of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

The national team rose to prominence after performances in the World Cricket League. They also played in the 2009 World Cup Qualifier and progressed to participate in their first major tournament, the 2010 ICC World Twenty20. That year proved to be lucky as they won the Intercontinental Cup beating Scotland in the finale. In 2011, the Afghanistan team failed to qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup but gained ODI status for the next four years.

Afghanistan didn't look back since then as their growth in international cricket has been rapid. They surprised one and many in the 2016 T20I World Cup when they beat the Windies. The next year they were awarded Test status along with Ireland. They booked their place in the 2019 World Cup by winning the Qualifiers, beating the Windies in the finals. The Afghans have developed into a bunch of enthusiastic cricketers who now have the skills and expertise to punch above their weight. The spin sensation, Rashid Khan, has been pivotal in their growth and success.

After one year of receiving Test status, they played their first-ever Test against India in 2018. They did lose it but playing one was a big achievement in itself. In the following year, hosting Ireland in a one-off Test in Dehradun, the Afghans registered their first win and became the joint second-fastest to a maiden Test match win, alongside Pakistan and England.

Since then, the Afghanistan Men’s Cricket Team has transitioned from being ‘cricket's fairytale’ to a legitimate global powerhouse. No longer just a team of plucky underdogs, Afghanistan is now a side that world-ranked giants fear to face, especially in spin-friendly conditions.

The last few years have seen Afghanistan secure their place at the high table of international cricket, highlighted by their first-ever appearances in the knockout stages of global events. The 2023 ODI World Cup is the turning point for the Afghans. In a tournament that featured only the Top 10 teams in the World, Afghanistan narrowly missed out on a semifinal berth in a gut-wrenching loss to eventual champions Australia. However, they still finished 6th and had memorable wins against the likes of Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka.

That performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup galvanized things further and Afghanistan went on to defeat the likes of New Zealand and Australia enroute to a semifinal in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. They eventually ran out of steam against the Proteas in the semifinal clash but it was a real statement and showed everyone how far they had come.

Most recently in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Afghanistan found themselves in the Group of Death alongside New Zealand and South Africa and a double Super Over loss against the Proteas saw them miss out on a Super 8s spot. Following a group-stage exit in the 2026 T20 World Cup, the ACB initiated a leadership transition to prepare for the 2027 ODI World Cup cycle as their iconic head coach, Jonathan Trott, stepped down. Richard Pybus is the man who replaced Trott.

The narrative of Afghanistan cricket has shifted from survival to excellence. Despite significant political and administrative shifts back home, the team has maintained a remarkably consistent upward trajectory.