History of Afghanistan Cricket
Follow Afghanistan cricket from the federation’s formation in 1995 to Full Member and Test status, World Cups, landmark victories and a historic T20 World Cup semi-final. Afghanistan’s rise through international cricket has been unusually rapid. The national side moved through the ICC divisions, earned ODI status, reached global tournaments, became a Full Member in 2017 and then established itself against leading international teams. The Afghanistan Cricket Federation was formed in 1995. ICC affiliate membership followed in 2001, while ties with Asian cricket strengthened in the early 2000s. Cricket’s popularity grew quickly as the national team began producing results in regional competitions and climbing through the international structure. Between 2008 and 2009, Afghanistan won World Cricket League Divisions Five, Four and Three. The team narrowly missed the 2011 ODI World Cup, but the qualifying campaign delivered a major breakthrough: ODI status and a place in the ICC Intercontinental Cup. Afghanistan qualified for the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 and continued appearing at major ICC events. Qualification for the 2015 ODI World Cup brought another landmark, including the country’s first World Cup victory, against Scotland. On 22 June 2017, Afghanistan became an ICC Full Member and received Test status. The first Test followed against India in June 2018. In later years Afghanistan recorded major wins over established teams and became an increasingly prominent force in ODI and T20I cricket. A selected timeline of defining moments in Afghanistan cricket. The descriptions are written for Afghan Atalan and are based primarily on the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s published history. The Afghanistan Cricket Federation is established, creating an organized national structure for a sport that would later become one of Afghanistan’s most followed sporting passions. Afghanistan is admitted as an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council. This opens a formal pathway into ICC competitions and the international cricket system. Afghanistan’s relationship with regional cricket develops further through the Asian Cricket Council, giving players more opportunities to compete and gain experience against teams from across Asia. A difficult 2006 ACC Trophy campaign is followed by a major response from the team. In 2007 Afghanistan shares the ACC Twenty20 Cup title, and the players return home to growing public recognition as cricket gains a much larger following. Afghanistan wins ICC World Cricket League Division Five and then Division Four. These victories accelerate the national team’s rise and bring the dream of ODI cricket and World Cup qualification much closer. Afghanistan wins Division Three in Argentina and advances to the World Cup Qualifier in South Africa. Although the team narrowly misses the 2011 World Cup, it earns ODI status and qualifies for the ICC Intercontinental Cup. The national governing structure is elevated from a federation to the Afghanistan Cricket Board, giving cricket a more independent administrative structure and supporting wider development across the country. Afghanistan wins the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in the UAE and reaches the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 in the Caribbean. Matches against India and South Africa mark the senior team’s arrival on one of cricket’s biggest stages. Afghanistan returns to the T20 World Cup in 2012 and continues expanding its international schedule. In 2013 the ICC grants Afghanistan Associate Member status, recognizing the country’s rapid cricket development. Afghanistan makes its ODI World Cup debut in Australia and New Zealand. A dramatic victory over Scotland becomes the country’s first win at the Cricket World Cup and an enduring moment in Afghan sporting history. Afghanistan defeats Zimbabwe in ODI and T20I series, a major statement for an Associate nation. At the 2016 T20 World Cup in India, Afghanistan reaches the Super 10 stage and defeats eventual champions West Indies. On 22 June 2017, the ICC awards Afghanistan Full Member status and Test status. The achievement completes a remarkable climb from the lower divisions of international cricket to the highest level of the game. Afghanistan plays its inaugural Test against India in Bengaluru on 14 June 2018. The match begins a new chapter in which Afghanistan can compete in cricket’s longest international format. Afghanistan recovers from a difficult start at the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe to win the tournament, securing qualification for the 2019 Cricket World Cup. Afghanistan records its first Test victory by defeating Ireland in Dehradun. Later that year, the team also defeats Bangladesh in a Test in Chattogram, demonstrating its growing ability in the five-day format. At the ODI World Cup in India, Afghanistan defeats England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands. Four victories transform the team’s World Cup record and secure direct qualification for Afghanistan’s first ICC Champions Trophy. Afghanistan produces its deepest run at a senior ICC World Cup, defeating teams including New Zealand, Australia and Bangladesh and reaching the T20 World Cup semi-finals for the first time. Afghanistan appears at the ICC Champions Trophy for the first time. A victory over England becomes the country’s first win in the competition and adds another milestone to its growing record at global tournaments. Afghanistan now competes as an ICC Full Member across Tests, ODIs and T20Is. Senior internationals, domestic cricket and youth pathways continue to shape the next chapter of Afghan cricket.
From humble beginnings
to the world stage.1995 — PRESENTAFGHANISTAN · CRICKET · HISTORYAN EXTRAORDINARY RISEA cricket story built across generations.
The Afghanistan cricket journey
Since 1995The road to the world stage
The federation is established
ICC affiliate membership
A stronger place in Asian cricket
Public support begins to surge
Back-to-back World Cricket League titles
Division Three champions and ODI status
Afghanistan Cricket Board takes shape
First global T20 World Cup
More global tournaments and Associate status
First ODI World Cup victory
Historic bilateral success
Full Member and Test status
The first Test match
World Cup Qualifier champions
A landmark Test victory
Breakthrough ODI World Cup campaign
Historic T20 World Cup semi-final
Champions Trophy debut
A new generation continues the story