Afghan cricket team
Encyclopedia
The Afghanistan national cricket team is the team that represents the country of Afghanistan
in international cricket
matches. Cricket has been played in Afghanistan since the mid 19th century, but it is only in recent years that the national team has become successful. The Afghanistan Cricket Federation
was formed in 1995 and became an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council
(ICC) in 2001 and a member of the Asian Cricket Council
(ACC) in 2003. They are ranked ninth in International Twenty20
cricket as of 9 November 2011, ahead of ICC full member nations Zimbabwe and the currently unranked Bangladesh.
The national team, formed in 2001, played in the 2009 World Cup Qualifier
after rising rapidly through the World Cricket League
, starting in Division Five in May 2008. The team failed to qualify for the 2011 World Cup
, but did earn ODI status until 2013. On 13 February 2010, the Afghan cricket team secured qualification to the 2010 ICC World Twenty20
, the team's first major tournament. In the same year they won their first Intercontinental Cup
, beating Scotland in the final.
in 1839, though it appears that no long lasting legacy of cricket was left by the British. In the 1990s, cricket became popular amongst the Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan
, and the Afghanistan Cricket Board was formed there in 1995. They continued to play cricket on their return to their home country. Like all sports, cricket was originally banned by the Taliban, but cricket became an exception in 2000 (being the only sport in Afghanistan to be approved by the Taliban) and the Afghanistan Cricket Federation was elected as an affiliate member of the ICC the following year.
The national team was invited to play in the second tier of Pakistani domestic cricket the same year, and the tour brought international media attention to Afghan cricket when the US-led invasion
of the country began whilst the team was in Pakistan
. The team lost three and drew two of the five matches on the tour.
They played in two Pakistani tournaments in 2003, winning their first match that year. They began playing in Asian regional tournaments in 2004, finishing sixth in their first ACC Trophy. More success began in 2006 when they were runners-up to Bahrain in the Middle East Cup and beat an MCC
side featuring former England captain
Mike Gatting
by 171 runs in Mumbai
. Gatting was dismissed for a duck
.
They toured England
in the summer of 2006, winning six out of seven matches. Three of their wins came against the second XIs of Essex
, Glamorgan
and Leicestershire
. They finished third in the ACC Trophy that year, beating Nepal in a play-off match.
They won their first tournament in 2007, sharing the ACC Twenty20 Cup
with Oman after the two tied in the final. They began their qualifying campaign for the 2011 World Cup
in Jersey
in 2008, winning Division Five
of the World Cricket League. They finished third in the ACC Trophy Elite tournament the same year, and won a second consecutive WCL tournament, Division Four
in Tanzania
later in the year.
In January 2009, Afghanistan
progressed to the 2009 World Cup Qualifier by winning Division Three
of the World Cricket League in Buenos Aires
, topping the table on net run rate ahead of Uganda and Papua New Guinea.
, but earned ODI status for four years. Their first ODI was against Scotland in the 5th place play off, having previously beaten the Scots earlier in the tournament; Afghanistan won by 89 runs.
In the Intercontinental Cup Afghanistan played its first first-class match against a Zimbabwe XI in a four day match in Mutare
. During the match, which was drawn, Afghan batsman Noor Ali
scored centuries in both his innings, making him only the fourth player to do so on their first-class debut. Later, in August 2009, they played the Netherlands in same competition at the VRA Cricket Ground
, winning a low scoring match by one wicket.
Afghanistan then took part in the 2009 ACC Twenty20 Cup
in the United Arab Emirates
. Afghanistan were drawn in Group A, a group which Afghanistan topped at the end of the group stages by winning all five of their matches. In the semi-finals the Afghans defeated Kuwait by 8 wickets. In the final they met the hosts, the United Arab Emirates, whom they defeated by 84 runs.
On 1 February 2010, Afghanistan played their first Twenty20 International
against Ireland, which they lost by 5 wickets. On 13 February 2010, Afghanistan first defeated the United Arab Emirates by 4 wickets to make their way to the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 to be in the West Indies in April 2010. Later the same day they defeated Ireland by 8 wickets in the Final of 2010 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier
and won the qualifier. Afghanistan were in Group C of the main tournament, with India and South Africa. During their first match against India, opening batsman Noor Ali
hit 50 runs, helping Afghanistan to a score of 115 in their 20 overs. Despite this they lost the match by 8 wickets. In their second match, the team were reduced to 14/6 at one stage, before a late rally from Mirwais Ashraf
and Hamid Hassan helped Afghanistan post 88 all out, resulting in a loss by 59 runs.
The teams Intercontinental Cup campaign continued in 2010, with wins over Ireland, Canada, Scotland and Kenya before they beat Scotland by 7 wickets in the final in Dubai
. Also in 2010, they won the ACC Trophy Elite tournament in Kuwait
, beating Nepal in the final and finished third in Division One
of the World Cricket League
in the Netherlands
. They took part in the cricket tournament
at the 2010 Asian Games
in China
and won the silver medal, losing to Bangladesh in the final.
In 2011, Afghanistan have begun play in the 2011-13 ICC Intercontinental Cup, so far beating Canada and drawing with the UAE. In the parallel one-day league, they have won two matches against Canada and lost twice to the UAE.
Cricket World Cup
ICC World Twenty20
ICC Trophy
ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier
World Cricket League
ACC Trophy
ACC Twenty20 Cup
, where they are drawn in the same group as Hong Kong, Oman, Kuwait and the Maldives. The event is a qualifier for the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier
, but Afghanistan have already qualified for the event in the United Arab Emirates
. Further matches in the 2011-13 Intercontinental Cup and the associated one-day league will be played in 2012 against the Netherlands and Ireland and in 2013 against Scotland, Namibia
and Kenya.
in Sri Lanka
. Following Afghanistan's World Twenty20 qualifying campaign they played two One Day Internationals against Canada at the Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium
in the UAE
, after which the stadium was named the 'home' ground of Afghanistan.
As plans to resurrect Afghan cricket and the country itself it was later announced that Kabul National Cricket Stadium
would be built and completed by July 2011 it would employ many local Afghans in construction and later maintenance. It would also see new sprinklers, seats, training centre and a 6000 seat capacity built for people to watch and play cricket. The stadium is the hub of international and domestic cricket in Afghanistan Outside of Jalalabad, the Ghazi Amanullah Khan International Cricket Stadium
has been constructed.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
in international cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
matches. Cricket has been played in Afghanistan since the mid 19th century, but it is only in recent years that the national team has become successful. The Afghanistan Cricket Federation
Afghanistan Cricket Federation
Afghanistan Cricket Board is the official governing body of the sport of cricket in Afghanistan. Its current headquarters is in Kabul, Afghanistan....
was formed in 1995 and became an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council
International Cricket Council
The International Cricket Council is the international governing body of cricket. It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from England, Australia and South Africa, renamed the International Cricket Conference in 1965, and took up its current name in 1989.The...
(ICC) in 2001 and a member of the Asian Cricket Council
Asian Cricket Council
The Asian Cricket Council is a cricket organization which was established in 1983, to promote and develop the sport of cricket in Asia. It is the regional administrative body and is sub-ordinate to the International Cricket Council. The Conference became the Asian Cricket Council in 1995 and its...
(ACC) in 2003. They are ranked ninth in International Twenty20
Twenty20
Twenty20 is a form of cricket, originally introduced in England for professional inter-county competition by the England and Wales Cricket Board , in 2003. A Twenty20 game involves two teams, each has a single innings, batting for a maximum of 20 overs. Twenty20 cricket is also known as T20 cricket...
cricket as of 9 November 2011, ahead of ICC full member nations Zimbabwe and the currently unranked Bangladesh.
The national team, formed in 2001, played in the 2009 World Cup Qualifier
2009 ICC World Cup Qualifier
The 2009 ICC World Cup Qualifier was a cricket tournament that took place in April 2009 in South Africa. It was the final qualification tournament for the 2011 Cricket World Cup....
after rising rapidly through the World Cricket League
World Cricket League
The ICC World Cricket League is a series of international one-day cricket tournaments for national teams without Test status, administered by the International Cricket Council. All associate and affiliate members of the ICC are eligible to compete in the league system, which features a promotion...
, starting in Division Five in May 2008. The team failed to qualify for the 2011 World Cup
2011 Cricket World Cup
The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup was the tenth Cricket World Cup. It was played in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. It was Bangladesh's first time co-hosting a World Cup...
, but did earn ODI status until 2013. On 13 February 2010, the Afghan cricket team secured qualification to the 2010 ICC World Twenty20
2010 ICC World Twenty20
-------------------------------------------------Group A:---------Group B:---------Group C:---------Group D:---------Super 8s:...
, the team's first major tournament. In the same year they won their first Intercontinental Cup
2009–10 ICC Intercontinental Cup
The 2009–10 ICC Intercontinental Cup is the fifth edition of the ICC Intercontinental Cup tournament, an international first-class cricket tournament between nations who have not been awarded Test status by the International Cricket Council. The first fixtures will be played in July 2009. The...
, beating Scotland in the final.
Pre-ODI history
The earliest record of cricket in Afghanistan is of British troops playing a match in KabulKabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
in 1839, though it appears that no long lasting legacy of cricket was left by the British. In the 1990s, cricket became popular amongst the Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, and the Afghanistan Cricket Board was formed there in 1995. They continued to play cricket on their return to their home country. Like all sports, cricket was originally banned by the Taliban, but cricket became an exception in 2000 (being the only sport in Afghanistan to be approved by the Taliban) and the Afghanistan Cricket Federation was elected as an affiliate member of the ICC the following year.
The national team was invited to play in the second tier of Pakistani domestic cricket the same year, and the tour brought international media attention to Afghan cricket when the US-led invasion
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
of the country began whilst the team was in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. The team lost three and drew two of the five matches on the tour.
They played in two Pakistani tournaments in 2003, winning their first match that year. They began playing in Asian regional tournaments in 2004, finishing sixth in their first ACC Trophy. More success began in 2006 when they were runners-up to Bahrain in the Middle East Cup and beat an MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
side featuring former England captain
Captain (cricket)
The captain of a cricket team often referred to as the skipper is the appointed leader, having several additional roles and responsibilities over and above those of a regular player...
Mike Gatting
Mike Gatting
Michael "Mike" William Gatting OBE is a former English cricketer, who played first-class cricket for Middlesex and for England from 1977 to 1995, captaining the national side in twenty-three Test matches between 1986 and 1988...
by 171 runs in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. Gatting was dismissed for a duck
Duck (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a duck refers to a batsman's dismissal for a score of zero.-Origin of the term:The term is a shortening of the term "duck's egg", the latter being used long before Test cricket began...
.
They toured England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in the summer of 2006, winning six out of seven matches. Three of their wins came against the second XIs of Essex
Essex County Cricket Club
Essex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Essex. Its limited overs team is called the Essex Eagles, their team colours this season are blue.The club plays most of its home games...
, Glamorgan
Glamorgan County Cricket Club
Glamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
and Leicestershire
Leicestershire County Cricket Club
Leicestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Leicestershire. It has also been representative of the county of Rutland....
. They finished third in the ACC Trophy that year, beating Nepal in a play-off match.
They won their first tournament in 2007, sharing the ACC Twenty20 Cup
ACC Twenty20 Cup
The Asian Cricket Council Twenty20 Cup is a Twenty20 cricket tournament held in Asia. The first tournament was jointly won by Afghanistan and Oman.-2007 ACC Twenty20 Cup:...
with Oman after the two tied in the final. They began their qualifying campaign for the 2011 World Cup
2011 Cricket World Cup
The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup was the tenth Cricket World Cup. It was played in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. It was Bangladesh's first time co-hosting a World Cup...
in Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
in 2008, winning Division Five
2008 ICC World Cricket League Division Five
The 2008 ICC World Cricket League Division Five is a cricket tournament that took place between 23 and 31 May 2008 in Jersey. It forms part of the ICC World Cricket League and qualifying for the 2011 Cricket World Cup.-Teams:...
of the World Cricket League. They finished third in the ACC Trophy Elite tournament the same year, and won a second consecutive WCL tournament, Division Four
2008 ICC World Cricket League Division Four
The 2008 ICC World Cricket League Division Four is a cricket tournament in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, which took place between 4 and 11 October 2008 as a part of the ICC World Cricket League and qualifying for the 2011 Cricket World Cup.-Teams:...
in Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
later in the year.
In January 2009, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
progressed to the 2009 World Cup Qualifier by winning Division Three
2009 ICC World Cricket League Division Three
The 2009 ICC World Cricket League Division Three was a cricket tournament that took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina from January 24 to 31 2009. It formed part of the ICC World Cricket League and qualifying for the 2011 Cricket World Cup....
of the World Cricket League in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, topping the table on net run rate ahead of Uganda and Papua New Guinea.
ODI status
In the 2011 Cricket World Cup qualifying tournament, Afghanistan failed to progress to the World Cup2011 Cricket World Cup
The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup was the tenth Cricket World Cup. It was played in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. It was Bangladesh's first time co-hosting a World Cup...
, but earned ODI status for four years. Their first ODI was against Scotland in the 5th place play off, having previously beaten the Scots earlier in the tournament; Afghanistan won by 89 runs.
In the Intercontinental Cup Afghanistan played its first first-class match against a Zimbabwe XI in a four day match in Mutare
Mutare
Mutare is the fourth largest city in Zimbabwe, with a population of around 170,000. It is the capital of Manicaland province.-History:...
. During the match, which was drawn, Afghan batsman Noor Ali
Noor Ali
Noor Ali Zadran is an Afghan cricketer. Ali is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler who currently plays for the Afghanistan national cricket team...
scored centuries in both his innings, making him only the fourth player to do so on their first-class debut. Later, in August 2009, they played the Netherlands in same competition at the VRA Cricket Ground
VRA Cricket Ground
VRA Cricket Ground is a cricket ground in Amstelveen, the Netherlands. During the 1999 Cricket World Cup, it hosted a match between Kenya and South Africa...
, winning a low scoring match by one wicket.
Afghanistan then took part in the 2009 ACC Twenty20 Cup
2009 ACC Twenty20 Cup
The 2009 ACC Twenty20 Cup was played between 22–30 November 2009 in the United Arab Emirates.The twelve competing teams were: Afghanistan, Bahrain, China, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and the UAE....
in the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
. Afghanistan were drawn in Group A, a group which Afghanistan topped at the end of the group stages by winning all five of their matches. In the semi-finals the Afghans defeated Kuwait by 8 wickets. In the final they met the hosts, the United Arab Emirates, whom they defeated by 84 runs.
On 1 February 2010, Afghanistan played their first Twenty20 International
Twenty20 International
A Twenty20 International is a form of cricket which is played over 20 overs per side between two national cricket teams. The game is played under the rules of Twenty20 cricket...
against Ireland, which they lost by 5 wickets. On 13 February 2010, Afghanistan first defeated the United Arab Emirates by 4 wickets to make their way to the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 to be in the West Indies in April 2010. Later the same day they defeated Ireland by 8 wickets in the Final of 2010 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier
2010 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier
The 2010 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier was played from February 9–13, 2010 in the United Arab Emirates and a part of ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier series...
and won the qualifier. Afghanistan were in Group C of the main tournament, with India and South Africa. During their first match against India, opening batsman Noor Ali
Noor Ali
Noor Ali Zadran is an Afghan cricketer. Ali is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler who currently plays for the Afghanistan national cricket team...
hit 50 runs, helping Afghanistan to a score of 115 in their 20 overs. Despite this they lost the match by 8 wickets. In their second match, the team were reduced to 14/6 at one stage, before a late rally from Mirwais Ashraf
Mirwais Ashraf
Mirwais Ashraf Khan is a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler who plays for Afghanistan.Ashraf made his ODI debut against the Netherlands at the VRA Cricket Ground on 30 August 2009...
and Hamid Hassan helped Afghanistan post 88 all out, resulting in a loss by 59 runs.
The teams Intercontinental Cup campaign continued in 2010, with wins over Ireland, Canada, Scotland and Kenya before they beat Scotland by 7 wickets in the final in Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
. Also in 2010, they won the ACC Trophy Elite tournament in Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
, beating Nepal in the final and finished third in Division One
2010 ICC World Cricket League Division One
The 2010 ICC World Cricket League Division One was a cricket tournament which took place in July 2010 in the Netherlands. It is a part of the World Cricket League competition administered by the International Cricket Council, the international governing body for cricket.Division One, which is the...
of the World Cricket League
World Cricket League
The ICC World Cricket League is a series of international one-day cricket tournaments for national teams without Test status, administered by the International Cricket Council. All associate and affiliate members of the ICC are eligible to compete in the league system, which features a promotion...
in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. They took part in the cricket tournament
Cricket at the 2010 Asian Games
Cricket made its debut at the 16th Asian Games 2010 at Guangzhou, China where it was one of 42 sports competed in. The matches were played in Twenty20 format.Both Men's and Women's tournaments were conducted...
at the 2010 Asian Games
2010 Asian Games
The 2010 Asian Games, also known as the XVI Asiad, was a multi-sport event celebrated in Guangzhou, China from November 12 to November 27, 2010. Guangzhou was the second Chinese city to host the Games, after Beijing in 1990...
in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and won the silver medal, losing to Bangladesh in the final.
In 2011, Afghanistan have begun play in the 2011-13 ICC Intercontinental Cup, so far beating Canada and drawing with the UAE. In the parallel one-day league, they have won two matches against Canada and lost twice to the UAE.
Cricket World CupCricket World CupThe ICC Cricket World Cup is the premier international championship of men's One Day International cricket. The event is organised by the sport's governing body, the International Cricket Council , with preliminary qualification rounds leading up to a finals tournament which is held every four years...
- 19751975 Cricket World Cup-Group B:-Knockout stage:-Semifinals:In the best World Cup performance to date by a bowler, Gary Gilmour took six wickets as England were bowled all out for 93 , after falling to 37/7...
-19991999 Cricket World Cup-England:-Outside England:-Group A:-Results:-------------------------------------------------------------Group B:-Results:------------------------------------------------------------...
: Not eligible - not an ICC member - 20032003 Cricket World Cup-Group stage tables and results:The top three teams from each pool qualify for the next stage, carrying forward the points already scored against fellow qualifiers, plus a quarter of the points scored against the teams that failed to qualify.-Pool A:...
: Not eligible - not an ICC member at time of qualifying - 20072007 Cricket World CupThe 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup was the ninth edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup tournament that took place in the West Indies from 13 March to 28 April 2007, using the sport's One Day International format...
: Did not qualify - 20112011 Cricket World CupThe 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup was the tenth Cricket World Cup. It was played in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. It was Bangladesh's first time co-hosting a World Cup...
: Did not qualify
ICC World Twenty20ICC World Twenty20The ICC World Twenty20 or ICC World T20 also referred to as the T20 World Cup is the international championship of Twenty20 cricket. The event is organised by the sport's governing body, the International Cricket Council...
- 2007-20092009 ICC World Twenty20The 2009 ICC World Twenty20 was an international Twenty20 cricket tournament which took place in England in June 2009. It was the second ICC World Twenty20 tournament, following the inaugural event in South Africa in September 2007...
: Did not participate - 20102010 ICC World Twenty20-------------------------------------------------Group A:---------Group B:---------Group C:---------Group D:---------Super 8s:...
: First round
ICC TrophyICC TrophyThe ICC World Cup Qualifier is an international one-day cricket tournament run under the auspices of the International Cricket Council. Any Associate or Affiliate member of the ICC may attempt to qualify for the ICC Trophy by means of a system of regional qualifying events. The test-playing Full...
/ICC World Cup Qualifier
- 19791979 ICC TrophyCanada proved too strong for Malaysia, Rasiah Ratnalingham's excellent analysis of 12-5-18-3 not enough to stop the Canadians winning by 44 runs thanks to 77 from Cecil Marshall and 4-33 from John Vaughan...
-20012001 ICC TrophyThe 2001 ICC Trophy was a cricket tournament played in Ontario, Canada in 2001. It was the qualifying tournament for the 2003 Cricket World Cup...
: Not eligible, not an ICC member - 20052005 ICC TrophyIreland beat Bermuda easily as Ed Joyce made 103 for the hosts in Stormont.----Denmark beat Uganda by 28 runs as Thomas Munkholt Hansen took 6 for 30 to carry Denmark to a 28-run win over Uganda in Muckamore. Denmark made 197 with Henrik Saxe Hansen making 71...
: Did not qualify - 20092009 ICC World Cup QualifierThe 2009 ICC World Cup Qualifier was a cricket tournament that took place in April 2009 in South Africa. It was the final qualification tournament for the 2011 Cricket World Cup....
: 5th place
ICC World Twenty20 QualifierICC World Twenty20 QualifierThe ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier is an international Twenty20 cricket tournament run under the auspices of the International Cricket Council. The purpose is to qualify the top Associate Members for the ICC World Twenty20. First ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier was held in 2008 and it was in similar...
- 2009: Not eligible, not an ODI nation at time of tournament
- 20102010 ICC World Twenty20 QualifierThe 2010 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier was played from February 9–13, 2010 in the United Arab Emirates and a part of ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier series...
: Winners
World Cricket LeagueWorld Cricket LeagueThe ICC World Cricket League is a series of international one-day cricket tournaments for national teams without Test status, administered by the International Cricket Council. All associate and affiliate members of the ICC are eligible to compete in the league system, which features a promotion...
- 2008
- Division Five2008 ICC World Cricket League Division FiveThe 2008 ICC World Cricket League Division Five is a cricket tournament that took place between 23 and 31 May 2008 in Jersey. It forms part of the ICC World Cricket League and qualifying for the 2011 Cricket World Cup.-Teams:...
winners - Division Four2008 ICC World Cricket League Division FourThe 2008 ICC World Cricket League Division Four is a cricket tournament in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, which took place between 4 and 11 October 2008 as a part of the ICC World Cricket League and qualifying for the 2011 Cricket World Cup.-Teams:...
winners
- Division Five
- 2009
- Division Three2009 ICC World Cricket League Division ThreeThe 2009 ICC World Cricket League Division Three was a cricket tournament that took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina from January 24 to 31 2009. It formed part of the ICC World Cricket League and qualifying for the 2011 Cricket World Cup....
winners
- Division Three
- 2010
- Division One2010 ICC World Cricket League Division OneThe 2010 ICC World Cricket League Division One was a cricket tournament which took place in July 2010 in the Netherlands. It is a part of the World Cricket League competition administered by the International Cricket Council, the international governing body for cricket.Division One, which is the...
3rd Place
- Division One
ACC TrophyACC TrophyThe ACC Trophy or Asian Cricket Council Trophy is a one-day cricket tournament organised by the Asian Cricket Council for the non-test nations in Asia...
- 1996–2002: Not eligible, not an ACC member.
- 20042004 ACC TrophyThe 2004 ACC Trophy was a cricket tournament in Malaysia, taking place between June 12 to June 24 in 2004. It gave Associate and Affiliate members of the Asian Cricket Council experience of international one-day cricket and also helps forms an essential part of regional rankings...
: 6th place - 20062006 ACC TrophyThe 2006 ACC Trophy was a cricket tournament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, taking place between 14 August and 26 August 2006. It gives Associate and Affiliate members of the Asian Cricket Council experience of international one-day cricket....
: 3rd place - 20082008 ACC Trophy EliteThe 2008 ACC Trophy Elite was a cricket tournament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, taking place between 25 July and 3 August 2008. It gives Associate and Affiliate members of the Asian Cricket Council experience of international one-day cricket and also forms part of the regional qualifications for the...
: 3rd place (Elite) - 20102010 ACC Trophy EliteThe 2010 ACC Trophy Elite was a cricket tournament in Kuwait, taking place between March 31 and April 9, 2010. It gives Associate and Affiliate members of the Asian Cricket Council experience of international one-day cricket and also helps forms an essential part of regional rankings...
: Winners (Elite)
ACC Twenty20 CupACC Twenty20 CupThe Asian Cricket Council Twenty20 Cup is a Twenty20 cricket tournament held in Asia. The first tournament was jointly won by Afghanistan and Oman.-2007 ACC Twenty20 Cup:...
- 20072007 ACC Twenty20 Cup-3rd place play-off:-Final:...
: Joint winners with Oman - 20092009 ACC Twenty20 CupThe 2009 ACC Twenty20 Cup was played between 22–30 November 2009 in the United Arab Emirates.The twelve competing teams were: Afghanistan, Bahrain, China, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and the UAE....
: Winners
The future
In December 2010, Afghanistan will take part in the ACC Twenty20 Cup in NepalNepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, where they are drawn in the same group as Hong Kong, Oman, Kuwait and the Maldives. The event is a qualifier for the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier
2012 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier
The 2012 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier will be played in early 2012 and is a part of ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier series. This edition of the qualifier for the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 will be an expanded version comprising ten qualifiers from regional Twenty20 tournaments in addition to the six...
, but Afghanistan have already qualified for the event in the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
. Further matches in the 2011-13 Intercontinental Cup and the associated one-day league will be played in 2012 against the Netherlands and Ireland and in 2013 against Scotland, Namibia
Namibia national cricket team
The Namibia cricket team is the team that represents the country of Namibia in international cricket matches. It is governed by Cricket Namibia, an associate member of the International Cricket Council since 1992 and became part of the High Performance Program in 2007. They took part in the 2003...
and Kenya.
Grounds
Afghanistan do not play their homes matches in Afghanistan due to the ongoing security situation and the lack of international standard facilities. Afghanistan played their 'home' Intercontinental Cup fixture against Ireland at the Rangiri Dambulla International StadiumRangiri Dambulla International Stadium
Dambulla International Cricket Stadium is a 30,000 seat cricket stadium in Sri Lanka. The Stadium is situated in the Central Province, close to Dambulla on a 60 acre site leased from the Rangiri Dambulla Temple...
in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. Following Afghanistan's World Twenty20 qualifying campaign they played two One Day Internationals against Canada at the Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium
Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium
The Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium is in the emirate of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. It was originally constructed in the early 1980s and has been much improved over the years...
in the UAE
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
, after which the stadium was named the 'home' ground of Afghanistan.
As plans to resurrect Afghan cricket and the country itself it was later announced that Kabul National Cricket Stadium
Kabul National Cricket Stadium
Kabul National Cricket Stadium is a description of a stadium in Kabul, Afghanistan that is currently under construction. It is planned to be opened in July 2011 and have a seating capacity of 6,000 spectators....
would be built and completed by July 2011 it would employ many local Afghans in construction and later maintenance. It would also see new sprinklers, seats, training centre and a 6000 seat capacity built for people to watch and play cricket. The stadium is the hub of international and domestic cricket in Afghanistan Outside of Jalalabad, the Ghazi Amanullah Khan International Cricket Stadium
Ghazi Amanullah Khan International Cricket Stadium
The Ghazi Amanullah Khan International Cricket Stadium is the first international standard cricket stadium in Afghanistan. It is located in the Ghazi Amanullah Khan Township, about 15 kilometres outside the city of Jalalabad in Nangarhar Province....
has been constructed.
Current squad
The following players played for Afghanistan in their most recent match, against the United Arab Emirates:- Karim Sadiq
- Gulbudeen NaibGulbudeen NaibGulbadin Naib is an Afghan cricketer. Naib is a right-handed batsman who bowls right-arm fast-medium. He was born in Logar Province....
- Nawroz Mangal
- Mohammad ShahzadMohammad ShahzadMohammad Shahzad is an Afghan cricketer who is a right-handed batsman who plays primarily as a wicketkeeper. Shahzad represents Afghanistan in international cricket....
- Mohammad NabiMohammad NabiMohammad Nabi Pashto:محمد نبي عيسی خېل is a right-handed batsman and off break bowler who plays for and captains Afghanistan...
- Asghar Stanikzai
- Javed AhmadiJaved AhmadiJaved Ahmadi is an Afghan cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman who bowls right-arm off break. He currently represents the Afghanistan national cricket team....
- Mirwais AshrafMirwais AshrafMirwais Ashraf Khan is a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler who plays for Afghanistan.Ashraf made his ODI debut against the Netherlands at the VRA Cricket Ground on 30 August 2009...
- Samiullah ShenwariSamiullah ShenwariSamiullah Shenwari is a right-handed batsman and leg break bowler who plays for Afghanistan.Shenwari is a part of the rapidly rising Afghan cricket team that in under a year has won the World Cricket League Division Five, Division Four and Division Three, thus promoting them to Division Two and...
- Hamza HotakHamza HotakHamza Hotak is an Afghan cricketer. Hotak is a left-handed batsman who bowls slow left-arm orthodox. He was born in Nangarhar Province....
- Dawlat ZadranDawlat ZadranDawlat Zadran is an Afghan cricketer. Zadran is a right-handed batsman who bowls right-arm fast-medium. He was born in Khost Province....
One-day International
- Highest team total: 295-8 v Scotland, 19 April 2009 at Willowmoore ParkWillowmoore ParkWillowmoore Park is a multi-purpose stadium in Benoni, South Africa. It is currently used mostly for cricket matches and hosted two matches during the 2003 Cricket World Cup. The stadium holds 20,000 people and opened in 1924...
, BenoniBenoni, GautengBenoni is a city with 654,509 inhabitants on the East Rand in the South African province of Gauteng. Since 2000, it has been part of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.- History :...
, South AfricaSouth AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans... - Highest individual score: 118 by Mohammad Shahzad v Canada, 16 February 2010 at Sharjah
- Most runs in career: 652 by Mohammad Shahzad
- Best innings bowling: 4-24 by Shapoor ZadranShapoor ZadranShapoor Zadran is an Afghan cricketer. Zadran is a left-handed batsman who bowls left-arm fast-medium. Zadran currently plays for the Afghanistan national cricket team....
v the Netherlands, 30 August 2009 at VRA GroundVRA Cricket GroundVRA Cricket Ground is a cricket ground in Amstelveen, the Netherlands. During the 1999 Cricket World Cup, it hosted a match between Kenya and South Africa...
, AmstelveenAmstelveen' is a suburban municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. It is part of the metropolitan area of Amsterdam. The municipality of Amstelveen consists of the following villages and/or districts: Amstelveen, Bovenkerk, Westwijk, Bankras-Kostverloren, Groenelaan, Waardhuizen,... - 25 by Samiullah Shenwari
Twenty20 International
- Highest team total: 147-2 v Ireland, 13 February 2010 at Dubai Sports City StadiumDSC Cricket StadiumDSC Cricket Stadium also known as the Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium is a description of a new multi-purpose stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is mainly be used for cricket. It opened with the Australia vs Pakistan ODI series that started on April 22, 2009. It has a capacity of 25,000...
- Highest individual score: 65 by Mohammad Shahzad v Ireland, 13 February 2010 at Dubai Sports City Stadium
- Most runs in career: 199 by Noor Ali ZadranNoor AliNoor Ali Zadran is an Afghan cricketer. Ali is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler who currently plays for the Afghanistan national cricket team...
- Best innings bowling: 3-17 by Karim Sadiq v Ireland, 9 February 2010 at Dubai Sports City Stadium
- Most wickets in career: 14 by Hamid Hassan