Afghanistan vs England: A Comprehensive Cricket Timeline

The Rise of Afghan Cricket Against England

The story of the Afghanistan national cricket team playing the England cricket team is interesting because it shows how a new cricketing nation can take on one of the sport’s traditional powerhouses. Afghanistan is a very new team in international cricket, but they have played England in a number of formats, showing how quickly they are improving and how competitive they are. This article goes into detail on their matches in Test, One Day International (ODI), and Twenty20 International (T20I) formats, focusing on important games, performances, and milestones that have made this rivalry what it is today.

Afghanistan’s experience in international cricket began in the early 2000s, when they first played in the ICC World Cricket League. Their rise from being an affiliate to being a full ICC member in 2017 shows how determined they are. England has a long and rich cricket history, therefore they have been a tough opponent. Each match has been a big deal for Afghanistan. The timeline of the afghanistan national cricket team vs england cricket team timeline shows how Afghanistan has grown from being the underdogs to a side that can win big games.

• Rapid Ascent: Afghanistan gained ODI status in 2009 and Test status in 2017, enabling competitive matches against top teams like England.

• Key Players: Players like Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi have been pivotal in Afghanistan’s performances against England.

• Historic Wins: Afghanistan’s victories, particularly in limited-overs formats, mark significant moments in their cricketing journey.

• Competitive Spirit: Despite England’s dominance, Afghanistan’s fearless approach has made their encounters thrilling.

First Meetings and Afghanistan’s Rise

The timeline for the afghanistan national cricket team vs england cricket team timeline started in 2015, when they first met in an official match in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup in Sydney. This ODI match was Afghanistan’s first time playing England in a big event. England scored 240 runs with Ian Bell’s 52 leading the way. Afghanistan scored 111 runs in 25 overs, but the chase was hindered by rain. Samiullah Shinwari was the top scorer with 30 runs. England triumphed by 9 wickets (DLS method), but Afghanistan’s strong play showed that they have a lot of potential.

The two teams played each other again in the ICC World T20 in Delhi in 2016. England set a goal of 142 runs and 7 wickets, with Joe Root hitting 52 runs. Afghanistan’s chase ended at 127/9, and Moeen Ali’s spin was the key. Even though they lost, Afghanistan’s bowlers, led by Rashid Khan, proved that they could take on the best batters. These early games helped Afghanistan’s status in international cricket rise.

Big moments in limited-overs cricket

The 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup in Manchester was a turning point in the history of the Afghanistan and England cricket teams. Afghanistan batted first and scored 247 runs with Hashmatullah Shahidi’s 76 and Asghar Afghan’s 44 giving them a solid base. England’s comeback was strong, with Eoin Morgan scoring 148 runs (including 17 sixes) to take them to 397/6. Afghanistan lost by 150 runs after being knocked out for 200. But they did get better at putting up a competitive score against England’s strong bowling assault.

The most important event in this rivalry happened in Delhi during the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup. Afghanistan shocked England by defending 284 runs to win by 69 runs. Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s 80 and Ibrahim Zadran’s 28 set the tone, and Rashid Khan’s 3/37 and Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s 3/51 broke up England’s batting. This win was Afghanistan’s first-ever ODI win over England, which solidified their place as a growing power.

• 2019 World Cup: England’s massive total showcased their batting prowess, but Afghanistan’s resilience was evident.

• 2023 Upset: Afghanistan’s victory over England was a historic moment, highlighting their growing competitiveness.

• Spin Dominance: Afghanistan’s spinners, particularly Rashid Khan, have consistently troubled England’s batters.

• Batting Growth: Contributions from Gurbaz and Shahidi reflect Afghanistan’s improving batting depth

Test Cricket: A New Level

There have been no Test matches between the afghanistan national cricket team vs england cricket team timeline as of July 2025. However, Afghanistan has been a Test team since 2017, therefore there is a chance that they will play each other in the future. Afghanistan’s Test career has had some great moments, like their 2019 win over Ireland, when Rashid Khan took five wickets. England has a long history of playing Test matches, so they would be a tough opponent. A Test match between these two sides would be a big step up in their rivalry.

Afghanistan hasn’t played many Tests because of political instability and problems with logistics, but their performances in shorter formats show that they may do well in the lengthier version. England has a lot of experience in challenge cricket, with players like Joe Root and Ben Stokes. This would be a challenge for Afghanistan’s young players, such Ibrahim Zadran and Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Recent Fights and the Champions Trophy in 2025

The Afghanistan national cricket team vs. the England national cricket team timeline peaked during the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Lahore. Afghanistan scored 300 runs and lost 7 wickets. Ibrahim Zadran hit a record-breaking 150 runs and Mohammad Nabi hit 45 runs. England lost by 8 runs, even though Joe Root scored a brave 100. Azmatullah Omarzai’s five-wicket haul, which included Jos Buttler’s wicket, sealed Afghanistan’s win. Afghanistan’s capacity to play in high-stakes matches was shown by this triumph, which knocked England out of the tournament.

Afghanistan and England have only played each other a few times in T20Is, and England has won most of those games. Afghanistan could only score 112 runs in their 2022 T20 World Cup match in Perth. Sam Curran’s 5/10 earned him Player of the Match. England chased down the goal in 18.1 overs, winning by five wickets. Afghanistan’s bowlers, including Mujeeb Ur Rahman, looked good but couldn’t get past England’s well-organized attack.

• Omarzai’s Heroics: Azmatullah Omarzai’s all-round performance in 2025 was a game-changer for Afghanistan.

• Root’s Resilience: Joe Root’s century in 2025 showed England’s fighting spirit despite the loss.

• Spin Challenge: Afghanistan’s spinners continue to pose problems for England’s middle order.

• Close Finishes: Recent matches highlight the growing competitiveness of this rivalry.

Important Players and Tactical Fights

The chronology of the Afghanistan national cricket team vs. the England cricket team is marked by great performances. Rashid Khan’s leg-spin has always been a threat to Afghanistan since he can change the outcome of a match in their favor. The team has gotten deeper thanks to Mohammad Nabi’s all-around play and Ibrahim Zadran’s hitting. Jos Buttler and Joe Root have regularly guided England’s batting to victory over Afghanistan, but Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid have had trouble against Afghanistan’s spin-heavy attack.

Afghanistan’s spinners are in charge of the middle overs, while England’s aggressive batting style tries to take control early on. The 2025 Champions Trophy encounter showed that Afghanistan can change their game. Omarzai’s speed worked well with their spin assault to confound England’s batters.

Future Opportunities and Problems

The timetable for the afghanistan national cricket team vs england cricket team timeline in the future looks like it will have more intriguing matches. Afghanistan’s steady play in ODIs and T20Is shows that they are getting closer to the best teams. Their plans for the 2026 T20 World Cup, which include a T20I series against Bangladesh, show that they are focusing on white-ball cricket. Even though England has had some problems lately, they are still a powerhouse, and their depth means they will be a challenging opponent in the future.

Afghanistan has a hard time with Test matches because they don’t have many of them, and their home base is politically unstable. After failing to do well in key competitions, England has to work on getting their ODI form back. Both teams are anticipated to face each other in ICC competitions in the near future, which will add further to this rivalry.

In conclusion

The timeline of the afghanistan national cricket team vs england cricket team timeline is a story of growth, strength, and a desire to win. Afghanistan has gone from being a little team to a powerful one since they first met in 2015. They won the World Cup in 2023 and the Champions Trophy in 2025, both of which were spectacular events. Every game versus England has shown how far they’ve come, thanks to players like Rashid Khan and Ibrahim Zadran. This rivalry will be interesting in international cricket as long as Afghanistan keeps getting better and England tries to get back on top. Fans are excited to see what happens next.