Afghanistan Cricket Team


Team centre

Afghanistan

Team info
Full name
Afghanistan
Abbreviation
AFG
Type
country
Country
Afghanistan
Head coach
Jonathan Trott
Captain (ODI)
Hashmatullah Shahidi
Captain (Test)
Hashmatullah Shahidi
Captain (T20I)
Rashid Khan

Afghanistan’s journey into official international cricket began on 19 April 2009. They played their first One Day International (ODI) match against Scotland at Willowmoore Park in Benoni, South Africa. This debut was a significant milestone, marking Afghanistan’s entry into the international cricket arena after years of development and perseverance

This victory was more than just a win; it symbolised the rise of a team from a war-torn country, making its mark on the global stage. The journey to this point was marked by relentless effort, overcoming numerous challenges, and a burning passion for the game.

Since then, Afghanistan has grown remarkably, becoming a competitive force in international cricket. They have participated in major tournaments, including the ICC Cricket World Cup and the ICC T20 World Cup, earning respect and admiration from cricketing nations worldwide.

Afghanistan Cricket Team bio

The Afghanistan national cricket team, also known as the Afghan Atalans, represents Afghanistan in international cricket. They are a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC), with Test, One-Day International (ODI), and Twenty20 International (T20I) status.

Cricket has been played in Afghanistan since the mid-19th century, but it was only in the early 21st century that the national team began to enjoy success. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) was formed in 1995, becoming an affiliate member of the ICC in 2001 and a member of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in 2003. On June 22, 2017, Afghanistan was granted full ICC membership, allowing them to play Test cricket.

Afghanistan’s first ODI was against Scotland on April 19, 2009, which they won by 9 wickets. They played their first Test match against India in June 2018 and have participated in seven T20 World Cups, reaching the semi-finals in 2024.

As of July 2023, Afghanistan is ranked 8th in ODIs, 10th in T20Is (as of May 2019), and 11th in Tests (their best-ever ranking was 9th). Due to persistent conflict and insecurity in Afghanistan, the team moved to a new home ground in Dehradun, India, and currently plays at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE.

Support Staff

PositionName
Director of cricketRaees Ahmadzai
Head coachRichard Pybus
Batting coachToby Radford
Fast bowling coachHamid Hassan
Spin bowling coachPiyal Wijethunga
Fielding coachJohn Mooney
Strength and conditioning coachJason Douglas

Sponsors

SponsorPartnership Details
Super Cola BeveragesLong-term partnership signed in November 2022, supporting ACB domestically and internationally.
FanCodeOfficial streaming partner, streaming bilateral tournaments.
Star Medical ComplexLong-term partnership signed in June 2023, providing medical support and routine check-ups.
Dream StudiosOfficial Cricket Game Partner.
TYKAOfficial Cloth Manufacturing Partner, logo on limited-overs jerseys.
Asian Cricket CouncilPartner organizing tournaments for member countries in Asia.
Afghan TelecomOfficial IT partner.
Firebird Sports ManagementOfficial commercial partner.
EtisalatOfficial team sponsor for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup.
DafaNewsOfficial sponsor through the sports portal of Dafabet.
TLC 2.0Sponsor for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
1 2 3 7
Share article
Close
Tell us why didn’t you like our article so that we can improve on?
Choose ranking:
ICC Test Ranking
ICC ODI Ranking
ICC T20I Ranking