| 1st Match | 2009 |
| Captain | Test: Hashmatullah Shahidi ODI: Hashmatullah Shahidi T20I: Rashid Khan |
| Coach | Jonathan Trott |
| World Cup Titles | ODI: 0 T20I: 0 |
| Board | Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) |
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.
Afghanistan squad for T20 World Cup 2026
Rashid Khan (C), Noor Ahmad, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Sediqullah Atal, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Naveen Ul Haq, Mohammad Ishaq, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Darwish Rasooli, Ibrahim Zadran.
Reserves: AM Ghazanfar, Ijaz Ahmadzai and Ziaur Rahman Sharifi.
Afghanistan schedule for T20 World Cup 2026
| Date | Team 1 | Team 2 | Venue | Stage | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/02/2026 | New Zealand | Afghanistan | Chennai | Group D | 11:00 |
| 11/02/2026 | South Africa | Afghanistan | Ahmedabad | Group D | 11:00 |
| 16/02/2026 | Afghanistan | UAE | Delhi | Group D | 11:00 |
| 19/02/2026 | Afghanistan | Canada | Chennai | Group D | 19:00 |
Support Staff
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Director of cricket | Raees Ahmadzai |
| Head coach | Jonathan Trott |
| Batting coach | Toby Radford |
| Fast bowling coach | Hamid Hassan |
| Spin bowling coach | Piyal Wijethunga |
| Fielding coach | John Mooney |
| Strength and conditioning coach | Jason Douglas |
Sponsors
| Sponsor | Partnership Details |
|---|---|
| Super Cola Beverages | Long-term partnership signed in November 2022, supporting ACB domestically and internationally. |
| FanCode | Official streaming partner, streaming bilateral tournaments. |
| Star Medical Complex | Long-term partnership signed in June 2023, providing medical support and routine check-ups. |
| Dream Studios | Official Cricket Game Partner. |
| TYKA | Official Cloth Manufacturing Partner, logo on limited-overs jerseys. |
| Asian Cricket Council | Partner organizing tournaments for member countries in Asia. |
| Afghan Telecom | Official IT partner. |
| Firebird Sports Management | Official commercial partner. |
| Etisalat | Official team sponsor for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup. |
| DafaNews | Official sponsor through the sports portal of Dafabet. |
| TLC 2.0 | Sponsor for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. |
