Afghanistan gained affiliate membership of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in April 2009. Following that event, one-day international status for Afghanistan quickly emerged and quickly became a unifying symbol in an age of civil conflict and ethnic divisions.
Afghanistan achieved their inaugural series win against one of the top-8 ranked Full Members when they visited Zimbabwe for four ODIs and two T20Is in October 2024, finishing with a 3-1 result—an achievement often referenced while analyzing the Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs Australian men‚Äôs Cricket Team Match Scorecard in recent ICC tournaments.
| Date | Tournament | Venue | Afghanistan Score | Australia Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Feb 2025 | ICC Champions Trophy 2025 | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore | 273 all out (50 ov) | 109/1 (12.5 ov) | No result (Rain) (Cricket Team Match Scorecard) |
| 22 June 2024 | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 | Kingstown, St Vincent | 148/6 (20 ov) | 127 all out (19.2 ov) | Afghanistan won by 21 runs (Cricket Team Match Scorecard) |
| 7 Nov 2023 | ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | 291/5 (50 ov) | 293/7 (46.5 ov) | Australia won by 3 wickets (https://sportzfy-tv.watch/) |
| 1 June 2019 | ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 | County Ground, Bristol | 207 all out (50 ov) | 209/3 (34.5 ov) | Australia won by 7 wickets (https://sportzfy-tv.watch/) |
| 4 Mar 2015 | ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 | WACA Ground, Perth | 142 all out (37.3 ov) | 417/6 (50 ov) | Australia won by 275 runs (https://sportzfy-tv.watch/) |
Afghanistan
Afghanistan cricket team emerged as an international powerhouse during the 2010s in limited-overs format. Led by its spin-heavy attack honed on refugee camp pitches in Peshawar, Pakistan, their spin attack exploits turning conditions with stunning efficiency.
Furthermore, Afghanistan performed strongly at T20 World Cups multiple times before finally winning their inaugural title 2024.
Though political instability and an absence of stable home bases have limited progress on Test cricket front, success of this team has helped raise public morale across a nation grappling with widespread poverty and violence.
Afghanistan was granted full ICC member status along with Ireland in June 2017, enabling them to play their inaugural Test match and winning it against an inferior Ireland side was an impressive display of skill and determination.
Afghanistan have continued to shine in T20I cricket league stages of various tournaments while also making an impressionful showing at the ACC Emerging Team Asia Cup – reaching the final round in October 2024!
Afghanistan Cricket Team currently plays their home matches in Dehradun, India due to security concerns in Afghanistan; however, Afghan Cricket Board hopes that in future they may build a permanent base there which would serve as an essential step towards creating an independent, self-sufficient and sustainable national cricket program in Afghanistan.
Though women’s participation in sports is restricted by Taliban rule and successes for the men’s team are rare in a country that celebrates even minor victories with large crowds, cricket’s popularity despite these obstacles is evident by massive street celebrations following each on-field success; such was witnessed after Afghanistan won its 2023 ODI World Cup match against England; when thousands gathered together in Kabul to mark its victory.
Afghanistan national cricket teams are famous for their vibrant uniforms. Players typically don cricket whites with accents of red, green, blue and black; baggy red caps with the Afghanistan Cricket Board logo serve as headwear. Their bats combine imported designs with indigenous ones; leather gloves provide protection.
Australia
Afghanistan cricket team represents Afghanistan on an international stage. Managed by Afghanistan Cricket Board, it competes both Test and limited-overs internationals at both Test and limited-overs levels.
Afghanistan are affiliated members of both International Cricket Council (ICC) and Asian Cricket Council (ACC), becoming full members in June 2017 along with Ireland as another Associate country gaining Test status.
Lalchand Rajput was appointed coach of Afghanistan national cricket team on 13 July 2016, following his successful stint with India Under-19s team as head coach. In 2025 he replaced Davut Khanduja who had been removed due to defeats.
Under his coaching, Afghanistan cricket team won two one-day internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 internationals against Zimbabwe in October 2018; marking its inaugural ODI series win over a full member team. Later touring India, winning all ODI and T20I series 5-1.
Fazal Haq Farooqi and Travis Head lead the batting lineup of Pakistan Cricket team as respected batsmen known for their swing.
Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman provide strong bowling support; both have proven themselves outstanding performers for their nation over recent times.
Gaddafi Stadium in Kabul will present Afghan batsmen with a serious challenge when it comes to scoring runs on its challenging surface, yet fast bowlers.
Therefore, Afghan batting units must remain patient while their top order avoid taking expansive shots on this wicket.
Afghanistan do have a mathematical chance at qualifying for the semifinals, though it seems unlikely they’ll reach the final four.
Afghanistan will watch tomorrow’s England and South Africa match closely as its results could determine which two teams qualify.
England seem like they might edge ahead; should South Africa falter, Afghanistan could get lucky. Currently South Africa seems most likely to qualify – though any slipup against Afghanistan could give Afghanis another opportunity.
Match Schedule
Cricket has quickly become one of the most beloved sports in Afghanistan due to the success of their national team in international competition, ranking second overall in T20I rankings in 2014.
Cricket in Afghanistan dates back to the 1980s and 1990s when refugees living in refugee camps in Pakistan developed their skills through informal tape-ball games.
This set up a merit-based pipeline which prioritized ability over patronage – helping players such as Rashid Khan emerge from poverty.
In 1995, an Afghan Cricket Board was founded; later becoming an affiliate member of ICC; eventually earning ODI status and competing in World Cup Qualifier tournament.
Afghanistan won its inaugural ODI series against Zimbabwe in 2015 and then traveled to India in December 2016 for three T20Is and five ODIs; marking Afghanistan’s inaugural bilateral series with a Test-playing nation.
Afghanistan would have qualified for the semi-finals with a win against Australia; however, rain has made life more difficult than anticipated in ICC tournaments and umpires have decided that conditions are too damp for play – effectively cancelling out this matchup!
At present, both teams are tied on points, with South Africa leading. Afghanistan needs to win its remaining match against England by an impressive margin and hope South Africa loses by even greater margin.
If this occurs, Afghanistan would secure second place and would face England in the semi-finals; to reach the final, however, Afghanistan must maintain a positive net run rate by not losing any matches and maintaining an undefeated streak for each remaining match they play – an ambitious but achievable objective.
Prediction
On Friday in Lahore, reigning Champions Trophy winners Australia will square off with Afghanistan in an intense Champions Trophy matchup.
Australia are hoping to secure their semifinal berth while Afghanistan need one last stellar performance to get past Australia and into the last four. Both sides have clashed thrillingly at recent ICC events – adding further intrigue and drama.
Australia and Afghanistan both earned wins against England while Afghanistan secured an unexpectedly narrow win against South Africa, both sides playing their games consistently and no teams playing poorly; Australia in particular has struggled with consistency throughout this tournament but could put themselves on course for a top two finish if their performances improve dramatically in the closing rounds of Champions Trophy.
Australia boasts an experienced lineup, and they should be expected to dominate this match. Their quick bowlers should perform well on this pitch while their powerful batting lineup should prove too powerful for Afghanistan to handle. But the Afghans stand a great chance at making history if they can defeat what may be one of Australia’s weakest one day cricket sides ever seen!
This match will take place at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and its victor will advance to the semi-finals of Champions Trophy. Afghans currently rank fourth while Aussies stand second.
Afghanistan may still be young, but their development has been remarkable since 2008. They began playing competitive soccer in 2008 and reached the final of World Cup Qualifier that year; by 2015 they had won their inaugural ODI against Scotland and become full members of ICC.
Afghanistan boasts some tremendous talent in their team. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, leading run scorer from this year’s T20 World Cup, will be pivotal to Afghanistan against Australian fast bowlers.
Mohammad Nabi brings balance to Afghanistan through both right-handed batting and off-spin bowling; Fazalhaq Farooqi has excelled with the ball for Afghanistan thus far and should look to add even more wickets against Australia.
