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Cricket in Afghanistan
Crowd watching a cricket tournament in 2015
Country	Afghanistan
Governing body	Afghanistan Cricket Board
National team(s)	Afghanistan Men Afghanistan Women Afghanistan U-19 Men Afghanistan A
National competitions
List First Class Cricket Ahmad Shah Abdali 4-day Tournament Mirwais Nika 3-Day Tournament List A Cricket Ghazi Amanullah Khan Regional One Day Tournament Green Afghanistan One Day Cup T20 Cricket Shpageeza Cricket League Qosh Tepa National T20 Cup
International competitions
List Men’s national team ICC World Test Championship Cricket World Cup: 6th (2023) ICC World Twenty20: Semi-final (2024) ICC Champions Trophy Asia Cup Asian Games: Silver Medal (2010, 2014, 2022) Men’s U-19 national team Under-19 Cricket World Cup: 4th (2022) ACC Under-19 Asia Cup: Champions (2017) Afghanistan A cricket team ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup: Champions (2024)

Cricket in Afghanistan is the most popular sport in the country, which is represented internationally by the Afghanistan national cricket team. Afghanistan's border with the Test playing nation of Pakistan has helped the game to take root. Pakistan's former batsman Inzamam ul Haq has coached the Afghan national team in the past. Afghanistan became a full member of the International Cricket Council on 22 June 2017, enabling the national team to participate in official Test matches.

Afghanistan's playing season runs from May to September. There are 320 cricket clubs and 6 turf wickets in Afghanistan. In February 2017 the International Cricket Council (ICC) awarded first-class status to Afghanistan's four-day domestic competition. They also granted List A status to their existing Twenty20 domestic competition, as Afghanistan did not have a domestic 50-over tournament. In May 2017 however, the ICC recognised the 50-over Ghazi Amanullah Khan Regional One Day Tournament by granting it List A status.

History

Cricket was first played in Afghanistan during the 19th century Anglo-Afghan Wars, with British troops reported to have played in Kabul in 1839. However, unlike many countries, no lasting cricket legacy was left by the British, and it would be more than a hundred years before cricket returned.

In the 1990s, cricket became popular amongst Afghan refugees in Pakistan, and the Afghanistan Cricket Federation was formed there in 1995. They continued to play cricket on their return to their home country in late 2001. Like all sports, cricket was originally banned by the Taliban, but it became an exception in 2000 and the Afghanistan Cricket Federation was elected as an affiliate member of the ICC the following year.

The Afghanistan national cricket team's 21-run win over Namibia in Krugersdorp earned them official One Day International status in April 2009. The team qualified for the 2012 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

Today cricket is one of the most popular sports in Afghanistan, and the Afghanistan team has made quick progress in the international world of cricket.

Administration

Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is the official governing body of the sport of cricket in Afghanistan. Its current headquarters is in Kabul, Afghanistan. The Afghanistan Cricket Board is Afghanistan's representative at the International Cricket Council and was an associate member of ICC from June 2013 to 2017. Now it is one of the full members of ICC since 2017. It is also a member of the Asian Cricket Council.

National teams

National teams of India
Afghanistan (Men's)	Afghanistan (Women's)
Afghanistan U-19 (Men's)	Afghanistan A

The Afghanistan national cricket team is governed by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) and is a member of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). Since 2017, the ACB has been affiliated with ICC, the international governing body for world cricket. In 1910, the ACB became one of the members of the ACC.

Performance

The following list includes the performance of all of Afghanistan's national teams at major competitions.

Men's senior team

The Afghanistan national cricket team represents the country of Afghanistan in international cricket matches. The national team was formed in 1910, immediately after took part in Pakistan domestic circuit after being invited in 2001 . which played in the 2009 World Cup Qualifier after rising rapidly through the World Cricket League, starting in Division Five in May 2008. They play in the Elite division of the ACC Trophy.

Afghanistan's 21-run win over Namibia in Krugersdorp earned them official One Day International status. Afghanistan won their first One Day International against Scotland. In 2011, the team qualified for the 2012 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

Women's senior team

This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (July 2024)

The Afghanistan national women's cricket team is the team that represents the country of Afghanistan in international women's cricket matches. The team was formed in 2010, drawing on players mostly from Kabul. Although the team is yet to play representative cricket, it had been scheduled to take part in the 2011 ACC Women’s Twenty20 in Kuwait, which ran from 17 – 25 February. The team was forced to withdraw from the tournament before travelling to Kuwait due to elements in Afghanistan opposing women's participation in sport

Men's U-19 team

Afghanistan national under-19 cricket team represents the country of Afghanistan in U-19 international cricket.

Afghanistan finished second in the 2009 Under-19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier which was held in Canada. The team gained victories over the under-19 teams of Sierra Leone, Hong Kong, Vanuatu, the United States, Uganda, the Netherlands, Papua New Guinea. The team lost just two matches to Ireland and Canada. Afghanistan have finished fourth in 2011 Under-19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier which gained them qualification to 2012 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

Afghanistan A team

Affiliated Province Cricket Associations

There are currently 34 provincial cricket associations affiliated with ACB

Regional domestic teams

• Region: Amo
  • Balkh Province
  • Kunduz Province
  • Badakhshan Province
  • Takhar Province
  • Baghlan Province
  • Samangan Province
  • Sar-e Pol Province
  • Jowzjan Province
  • Faryab Province
• Region: Band-e-Amir
  • Ghazni Province
  • Bamyan Province
  • Parwan Province
  • Panjshir Province
  • Daykundi Province
  • Maidan Wardak Province
• Region: Boost
  • Kandahar Province
  • Helmand Province
  • Herat Province
  • Farah Province
  • Ghor Province
  • Badghis Province
  • Urozgan Province
  • Nimruz Province
  • Zabul Province
• Region: Mis Ainak
  • Khost Province
  • Logar Province
  • Paktia Province
  • Paktika Province
• Region: Spin Ghar
  • Nangarhar Province
  • Laghman Province
  • Kapisa Province
  • Kunar Province
  • Nuristan Province
• Region: Kabul

Organisation of cricket in modern Afghanistan

International cricket

Men's National Team

The India National Cricket Team represents Afghanistan in international cricket matches.

Afghanistan have been participating in international cricket since 2001 and competed in international tournament since 2004. They have competed in numerous tournaments over the years including the ACC tournaments. The Afghanistan national cricket team has also provided some of the greatest players to the world, the biggest example of which is Rashid Khan. The Afghanistan men's national team is currently ranked No. 11th in Tests, No. 8th in ODIs and at 10th position in T20Is. Afghanistan best performance in World Cup was the latest 2023 world cup under the captaincy of Hashmatullah Shahidi.

• Test International- Afghanistan made their debut as a Test playing nation in 2018 against India. In past time, Afghanistan rarely play test and won it. But in recent years they are playing more test matches and winning it to.
• One Day International- -Afghanistan played their first ODI International in 2009 against Scotland. They were not able to participate in first edition of Cricket World Cup. But from 2015 Cricket World Cup they have been continuisly participating and improving in every upcoming world cup
• T20 International- Afghanistan played their first T20 International in 2010 against Ireland. Afghanistan have made great impact in T20 international from their early day of this format. They have been in semis of recent 2024 Men's T20 World Cup.

Domestic Cricket

First Class competition

• Ahmad Shah Abdali 4-day Tournament -
• Mirwais Nika 3-Day Tournament -

Limited overs competitions

• Ghazi Amanullah Khan Regional One Day Tournament -
• Green Afghanistan One Day Cup -

Twenty20 competitions

• Shpageeza Cricket League -
• Qosh Tepa National T20 Cup -

Afghanistan's domestic structure originally consisted of a 25-over Inter-Provincial Tournament, which had the participation of 22 provinces in the tournament. The aim of the tournament was to spread the game across the country and to generate a greater depth of talent for the national team to select from. The best players from the tournament were selected players for Afghanistan A and under-19 teams based on their performance and would be sent for training and coaching to Bangladesh.

The top two teams from the 12-team first round advanced to the next round. The top six from the tournament then contested a 50 over tournament in Kabul. The 50 over tournament in May 2010 was won by Kabul Province.

Starting in 2011, Afghanistan's domestic cricket structure has grown. The expanded Inter-Provincial Tournament was reorganized into a 50 over tournament and divided into a Challenge Cup section (the Etisalat ODN Challenge Cup with 20 provincial teams) and an Elite Cup section (with 12 provincial teams; 4 of them qualifiers from the Challenge Cup section). In addition to the Inter-Provincial cricket the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has divided the provinces of Afghanistan in to 5 Cricket Regions to enable the better management of the game. The Regions are Amo in the north (centered on Balkh), Spin Ghar in the east (centered on Nangarhar), Band-e-Amir in the centre (centered on Kabul), Mis Ainak in the southeast (centered on Khost) and Boost in the west and southwest (centered on Kandahar). The 5 regions in turn have representative teams which play in all traditional 3 formats of cricket.

In addition to an expansion of the inter-provincial tournament from 25-over matches to 50-over matches and the addition of the T-20 and multi-day formats, cricket in Afghanistan has now expanded across the provinces as well; 32 of the 34 provinces now have representative sides. All provinces except Daykundi and Farah have a representative team, while the ACB recognizes Afghan Refugees and Koochian (Nomads) as provincial teams. The three-day league competition was expanded into a four-day league in 2014-15.

The UAE-based telecommunications company, Etisalat is now one of the main sponsors of Afghanistan's cricket, including being then title sponsor in Afghanistan's division 2 inter-provincinal challenge cup and the Etisalat Sixes T20 Tournament.

Starting from the 2017 season, Afghanistan has a four-day first-class competition (Ahmad Shah Abdali 4-day Tournament), a 50-over List A competition (Ghazi Amanullah Khan Regional One Day Tournament) and a recognized Twenty20 league (Shpageeza Cricket League). In 2019, an additional 3-day first-class event (Mirwais Nika Provincial 3-Day) and a List A event (Afghanistan Provincial Challenge Cup) were launched for individual provinces to compete in.

In March 2024, the ACB launched a new T20 cricket competition named Qosh Tepa National T20 Cup involving regional teams, with the first edition taking place in April 2024.

Stadiums

Active stadiums

Stadium	Location	Capacity	Notes	Image
Ghazi Amanullah International Cricket Stadium	Ghazi Amanullah Town	14,000
Kandahar International Cricket Stadium	Kandahar	9,000
Khost Cricket Stadium	Khost	8,000
Helmand Cricket Stadium	Lashkar Gah	8,000
Sherzai Cricket Stadium	Jalalabad	8,000
Laghman Cricket Stadium	Mihtarlam	7,000
Kabul International Cricket Stadium	Kabul	6,000
Paktia Cricket Stadium	Gardez	6,000

Performance By Afghanistan national team in International competitions

Men's team

ICC Cricket World Cup

Year	Round	Played	Won	Tied	Lost	Captain
1975	Not eligible – not an ICC Member
1979
1983
1987
1992
1996
1999
2003	Not an ICC Member at time of qualifying
2007	Did not qualify
2011
2015	Group stage	6	1	0	5	Mohammad Nabi
2019	Group stage	9	0	0	9	Gulbadin Naib
2023	Group stage	9	4	0	5	Hashmatullah Shahidi
Total	Group stage	24	5	0	19	–

ICC T20 World Cup

T20 World Cup record
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	L	T	NR
2007	Did not qualify
2009
2010	Group Stage	12/12	2	0	2	0	0
2012		11/12	2	0	2	0	0
2014		14/16	3	1	2	0	0
2016	Super 10	9/16	7	4	3	0	0
2021	Super 12	7/16	5	2	3	0	0
2022	Super 12	12/16	5	0	3	0	2
2024	Semi-finals	3/20	8	5	3	0	0
Total	Semi-finals (2024)	3/20 (2024)	32	12	18	0	2

ICC Champions Trophy

ICC Champions Trophy record
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	L	T	NR
1998	Not an ICC member
2000
2002
2004	Did not qualify
2006
2009
2013
2017
2025	Qualified
2029	TBD

ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier

Host & Year	Round	Position	P	W	L	T	NR	Notes
1979	Not eligible – Not an ICC member
1982
1986
1990
1994
1997
2001
2005	Did not qualify
2009	Playoffs	5th	10	6	4	0	0	Qualified for the 2009–10 Intercontinental Cup and gained ODI status until 2014
2014	Automatic qualification
2018	Champions	1st	8	5	3	0	0	Qualified for the 2019 Cricket World Cup
2023	Automatic qualification
Total			18	11	7	0	0

ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier

Host & Year	Round	Position	P	W	L	T	NR	Notes
2008	Not eligible, not an ODI nation at time of tournament
2010	Champions	1st	6	5	1	0	0	Qualified for the 2010 World Twenty20
2012	Runners-up	2nd	9	8	1	0	0	Qualified for the 2012 ICC World Twenty20
2013	Runners-up	2nd	9	7	2	0	0	Qualified for the 2014 ICC World Twenty20
2015	Playoffs	5th	9	5	2	0	2
2019	Did not participate as already qualified for World Cup via another method
Total			33	25	6	0	2

ICC Intercontinental Cup

• 2009–10: Winners
• 2011–13: Runners-up
• 2015-17: Winners

ICC World Cricket League

• 2008
  • Division Five winners
  • Division Four winners
• 2009
  • Division Three winners
• 2010
  • Division One 3rd Place
• 2011–13
  • Championship Runners Up

Asia Cup

Asia Cup record
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	L	T	NR
1984	Not eligible — Not an ICC Member
1986
1988
1990–91
1995
1997
2000
2004	Did not qualify
2008
2010
2012
2014	Group stage	4/5	4	1	3	0	0
2016	Did not qualify
2018	Super Fours	4/6	5	2	2	1	0
2022		4/6	5	2	3	0	0
2023	Group Stage	5/6	2	0	2	0	0
Total	Super Fours (2018, 2022)		16	5	10	1	0

Asian Games

Asian Games record
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	L	T	NR
2010	Silver Medal	2/9	3	2	1	0	0
2014	Silver Medal	2/10	3	2	1	0	0
2022	Silver Medal	2/14	3	2	0	0	1
Total	Silver Medal	2nd	9	6	2	0	1

ACC Premier League

• 2014: Winners

ACC Trophy

• 1996–2002: Not eligible, not an ACC Member
• 2004: 6th place
• 2006: 3rd place
• 2008: 3rd place (Elite)
• 2010: Winners (Elite)

Desert T20 Challenge

• 2017: Winners

Middle East Cup

• 2006: Runners-up

ACC Twenty20 Cup

Year	Round	Position	GP	W	L	T	NR
2007	Joint champion with Oman	1/10	6	4	1	1	0
2009	Champion	1/12	7	7	0	0	0
2011	Champion	1/10	6	6	0	0	0
2013	Champion	1/10	6	5	1	0	0
2015	Did not participate

Men's U-19 team

U-19 World Cup

Afghanistan's U19 World Cup record
Year	Result	Pos	№	Pld	W	L	T	NR
1988	Ineligible – not an ICC member
1998
2000
2002	Did not enter
2004
2006	Did not qualify
2008
2010	First round	16th	16	6	1	5	0	0
2012	First round	10th	16	6	3	3	0	0
2014	Quarter-finals	7th	16	6	3	3	0	0
2016	First round	9th	16	6	4	2	0	0
2018	Semi-finals	4th	16	6	3	2	0	1
2020	Quarter-finals	7th	16	6	3	2	0	1
2022	Semi-Finals	4th	16	6	3	3	0	0
2024	First round	13th	16	4	1	3	0	0
Total				46	21	23	0	2

Men's A team

ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup

ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup record
Year	Round	Position	P	W	L	T	NR
2013	Group Stage	5/8	3	2	1	0	0
2017	Semi-finals	4/8	4	2	2	0	0
2018	Group Stage	6/8	3	1	2	0	0
2019	Semi-finals	4/8	4	2	2	0	0
2023	Group Stage	5/8	3	2	1	0	0
2024	Champion	1/8	5	4	1	0	0
Total	1 Title	-	22	13	9	0	0

See also

• Sport in Afghanistan
• Out of the Ashes (2010 film), a 2010 documentary film
• Afghanistan A tour of Pakistan in 2013

References

1. "Women's Cricket: Afghanistan's Secretive New Sport". Time. 4 June 2010. Archived from the original on 17 August 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
2. ^ "Profile of Afghanistan". Asian Cricket Council. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
3. "Big-Three rollback begins, BCCI opposes". ESPN Cricinfo. 4 February 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
4. ^ "Afghanistan domestic competitions awarded first-class and List A status". ESPN Cricinfo. 4 February 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
5. ^ "In Principle Agreement to Constitutional and Financial Changes to ICC". International Cricket Council. 4 February 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
6. ^ "ICC Recognizes Afghanistan's Domestic ODI Tournament As List A League". Bakhtar News. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
7. ^ Timeline of Afghanistan cricket Archived 21 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine at CricketEurope
8. Afghanistan and Uganda seal place in ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier Archived 8 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine, ICC Media Release, 31 January 2009
9. WCL Division Five Official Site Archived 19 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine
10. ^ Profile of Afghanistan Archived 12 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine at the ACC website
11. First women's cricket team for Afghanistan
12. "Afghanistan's Pioneer Women". Asian Cricket Council. 15 August 2011.
13. ^ "Afghanistan Cricket Board – About Domestic Cricket". Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
14. "Afghanistan Cricket Board – Etisalat ODN Challenge Cup 2013". Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
15. "Afghanistan Cricket Board – Provincial ODN Challenge And Elite Cup 2011". Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
16. ^ Cricinfo Magazine – Where do Afghanistan go next?
17. Domestic cricket: Teams Archived 6 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Afghanistan Cricket Board
18. "Afghanistan Regional 4-Day Tournament 2014-15". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
19. "Provincial Three-day first class tournament to start in Nangarhar and Kunar". Afghanistan Cricket Board. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
20. "Provincial Grade-one Challenge Cup starts tomorrow". Afghanistan Cricket Board. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
21. "Afghanistan Cricket Board launches Qosh Tepa National T20 Cup". Amu TV. 28 March 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
22. "10-over cricket tournament begins in Lashkargah stadium". Pajhwok Afghan News. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
23. "Work on Laghman cricket stadium being completed: ACB". Pajhwok Afghan News. 26 February 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
24. "Points tables for the 2010 World Twenty20". CricketArchive. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
25. "2009–10 Intercontinental Cup". CricketEurope. Archived from the original on 24 February 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
26. "Afghanistan win a thrilling final". WCL Division Five Official Site. 31 May 2008. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
27. "Afghanistan". Asian Cricket Council. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
28. "ICC Media Release: Afghanistan and Uganda seal place in ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier". CricketEurope. 31 January 2009. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
29. "2010 WCL Division One". CricketEurope. Archived from the original on 29 September 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
30. "Afghanistan". Asian Cricket Council. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
31. "Afghanistan v Bangladesh, 26 November 2010". CricketArchive. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
32. "ACC Twenty20 Cup". CricketEurope. Archived from the original on 20 August 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
33. "ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2017". Retrieved 3 April 2017.
34. "ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2018". Retrieved 15 December 2018.
35. "ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2019". Retrieved 23 November 2019.
36. "ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2023". Retrieved 23 July 2023.
37. "ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024". Retrieved 27 October 2024.

External links

• Afgcric site
• Afghanistan Cricket
• Cricinfo-Afghanistan
• Afghan pages on asiancricket.org

v t e Cricket in Afghanistan
Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB)
National teams	Men Women (defunct) Men's A Men's U-19
Regional Teams	Amo Region Band-e-Amir Region Boost Region Mis Ainak Region Spin Ghar Region
Tournaments	First-class Ahmad Shah Abdali 4-day Tournament Mirwais Nika Provincial 3-Day One Day Ghazi Amanullah Khan Regional One Day Tournament Green Afghanistan One Day Cup Twenty20 Regional Shpageeza Cricket League Qosh Tepa National T20 Cup Franchise Afghanistan Premier League (defunct)
Grounds	Balkh Ghazi Amanullah (Jalalabad) Kabul Kandahar Khost Kunduz Others
Players	Test cricketers ODI cricketers T20I cricketers Captains
Records	Test records One Day International records Twenty20 International records

• Afghanistan
• Cricket

• Cricket in Afghanistan
• Sport in Afghanistan