The afghanistan national cricket team vs england cricket team timeline is one of cricket’s most exciting modern stories. Afghanistan started as an underdog. England came in as giants. But over the years, everything changed. Afghanistan grew stronger, smarter, and braver. They beat England in two back-to-back ICC events. Now every match between these two teams feels big. This article covers the full timeline, head-to-head records, key players, turning points, and what fans can expect next.
Afghanistan vs England Year-by-Year Timeline Overview
The afghanistan national cricket team vs england cricket team timeline shows how the rivalry has grown over the years. England dominated the early matches, but Afghanistan improved with every tournament and became one of the strongest teams in world cricket.
2015–2017: First Meetings
Afghanistan and England first met in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. England won comfortably by 9 wickets, but the match gave Afghanistan valuable experience on the world stage. In the 2016 T20 World Cup, Afghanistan competed much better and lost by only 15 runs. During this period, players like Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman helped Afghanistan build a strong spin attack.
2018–2020: Afghanistan Becomes Competitive
Between 2018 and 2020, Afghanistan developed into a dangerous white-ball team. In the 2019 Cricket World Cup, England scored 397 runs and won by 150 runs. Despite the loss, Afghanistan showed signs of improvement and challenged stronger teams more consistently. Their bowlers and middle-order batting became major strengths.
2021–2023: Rivalry Reaches a New Level
England continued to win important T20 World Cup matches in 2021 and 2022. However, the biggest moment came in the 2023 Cricket World Cup when Afghanistan defeated England by 69 runs in Delhi. Strong performances from Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Mohammad Nabi helped Afghanistan secure one of the most famous wins in their cricket history.
2024–2025: Afghanistan Establishes Itself
The rivalry became even more competitive in 2025 during the ICC Champions Trophy. Afghanistan scored 325 runs, powered by Ibrahim Zadran’s brilliant 177. England fought back through Joe Root’s century, but Afghanistan held their nerve and won by 8 runs. This victory confirmed that Afghanistan was no longer an underdog and could consistently challenge top teams like England.
Afghanistan vs England Head-to-Head Record
Numbers never lie. Here is every match result between these two sides, broken down clearly.
ODI Head-to-Head Record
| Year | Tournament | Venue | AFG Score | ENG Score | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | ICC Cricket World Cup | Sydney, Australia | 111/7 (36.2 ov) | 101/1 (18.1 ov) | England Won | 9 Wickets (D/L) |
| 2019 | ICC Cricket World Cup | Old Trafford, Manchester | 247/8 (50 ov) | 397/6 (50 ov) | England Won | 150 Runs |
| 2023 | ICC Cricket World Cup | Delhi, India | 284 (49.5 ov) | 215 (40.3 ov) | Afghanistan Won | 69 Runs |
| 2025 | ICC Champions Trophy | Lahore, Pakistan | 325/7 (50 ov) | 317 (49.5 ov) | Afghanistan Won | 8 Runs |
ODI Summary: Played 4 — Afghanistan 2 wins, England 2 wins. Balanced and competitive.
ICC Tournament Record
| Year | Event | Format | Venue | Winner | Key Performer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | ICC World Twenty20 | T20I | Colombo, Sri Lanka | England (by 116 runs) | Luke Wright (99*) |
| 2015 | ICC Cricket World Cup | ODI | Sydney, Australia | England (by 9 wkts) | Chris Jordan (2/13) |
| 2016 | ICC World T20 | T20I | Delhi, India | England (by 15 runs) | Moeen Ali (41*, 1/17) |
| 2019 | ICC Cricket World Cup | ODI | Manchester, England | England (by 150 runs) | Eoin Morgan (148) |
| 2021 | ICC T20 World Cup | T20I | Dubai, UAE | England (by 5 wkts) | Jos Buttler (69*) |
| 2022 | ICC T20 World Cup | T20I | Perth, Australia | England (by 5 wkts) | Sam Curran (5/10) |
| 2023 | ICC Cricket World Cup | ODI | Delhi, India | Afghanistan (by 69 runs) | Mujeeb Ur Rahman (3/51) |
| 2025 | ICC Champions Trophy | ODI | Lahore, Pakistan | Afghanistan (by 8 runs) | Ibrahim Zadran (177) |
ICC Overall Summary: 8 matches played — England 6 wins, Afghanistan 2 wins. England leads overall but Afghanistan’s recent form is strong.
Key Turning Points
Every rivalry has moments that change its direction forever. These three moments defined the most clearly.
2015 – First ODI Encounter
The 2015 World Cup in Sydney was Afghanistan’s first proper ODI meeting with England on the global stage. Rain interrupted the game. England chased a revised target with 9 wickets to spare. On paper, it was easy. But Afghanistan’s batting showed real fight. Najibullah Zadran scored a fearless 56 against a top-class English attack. Afghan fans in the stands cheered every run like it was a century. This match planted the first seed of belief inside the Afghanistan dressing room. They did not win. But they learned what elite cricket looks like from the inside.
2019 – England Dominance
Old Trafford 2019 gave the cricket world a record-breaking Eoin Morgan innings. His 148 off 71 balls with 17 sixes broke the ODI record for most sixes in one innings. England reached 397/6. Afghanistan’s reply of 247/8 was never going to be enough. But this match showed two things. First — England’s aggressive batting style was now a global benchmark. Second — Afghanistan’s spin bowlers troubled England’s top order at times, even in this big total. Mujeeb, Rashid, and Nabi made England work. The score was one-sided. The contest was not always. This match showed England’s strength. It also proved that Afghanistan’s bowling was impressive.
2023 – Afghanistan Historic Upset
October 15, 2023 is a date that will live forever in the Afghanistan national cricket team vs England cricket team timeline. Afghanistan batted first. Gurbaz scored 80. The team posted 284. Then Afghanistan’s spinners did what they do best — they strangled England’s batting line-up ball by ball. Mujeeb dismissed Buttler early. Nabi got Stokes. Rashid kept taking wickets. England’s reply of 215 all out in 40.3 overs was a complete batting failure. This was not just a win. This was proof that Afghanistan could beat the defending World Cup champions on the biggest stage. No fluke. No luck. Pure skill and planning.
Top Performers
Leading Run Scorers
| Player | Team | Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eoin Morgan | England | 2 (ODI) | 165 | 148 | 82.50 | 186.44 |
| Ibrahim Zadran | Afghanistan | 2 (ODI) | 193 | 177 | 96.50 | 132.19 |
| Joe Root | England | 2 (ODI) | 168 | 120 | 84.00 | 118.31 |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Afghanistan | 2 (ODI) | 108 | 80 | 54.00 | 142.10 |
| Rahmat Shah | Afghanistan | 3 (ODI) | 141 | 98 | 47.00 | 76.22 |
| Jos Buttler | England | 3 (Mixed) | 96 | 69* | 48.00 | 128.00 |
| Harry Brook | England | 1 (ODI) | 66 | 66 | 66.00 | 108.19 |
| Hashmatullah Shahidi | Afghanistan | 2 (ODI) | 88 | 76 | 44.00 | 71.54 |
Leading Wicket Takers
| Player | Team | Matches | Wickets | Best Figures | Economy Rate | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | Afghanistan | 4 | 7 | 3/51 | 5.60 | Off-break spinner |
| Sam Curran | England | 2 | 6 | 5/10 | 3.25 | Left-arm pace |
| Rashid Khan | Afghanistan | 5 | 6 | 2/17 | 5.80 | Leg-spin |
| Mohammad Nabi | Afghanistan | 5 | 5 | 3/17 | 5.12 | Off-break spinner |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | Afghanistan | 2 | 5 | 5/58 | 6.92 | Right-arm medium |
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | Afghanistan | 2 | 4 | 3/44 | 5.70 | Left-arm fast |
| Chris Jordan | England | 2 | 3 | 2/13 | 4.33 | Right-arm pace |
| Adil Rashid | England | 3 | 4 | 3/63 | 6.60 | Leg-spin |
Read Related Post : England Cricket Team vs West Indies Cricket Team Timeline
Conclusion
The afghanistan national cricket team vs england cricket team timeline is not just a record of cricket matches. It is a story of growth, belief, and courage. Afghanistan went from losing by 116 runs in 2012 to knocking England out of the 2025 Champions Trophy. England remain strong across all formats, especially T20Is. But in ODIs, Afghanistan has proven they can win when it matters most. Both teams are heading into the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 with big plans. Fans around the world should watch closely — because this rivalry is only getting better from here.
FAQs
When did Afghanistan first play England in an ODI?
Afghanistan first played England in an ODI on March 13, 2015, during the ICC Cricket World Cup at Sydney Cricket Ground. England won the match by 9 wickets.
How many times has Afghanistan beaten England?
Afghanistan has beaten England twice in ODI cricket. Their wins came in the 2023 Cricket World Cup and the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
Who is Afghanistan’s best performer against England?
Ibrahim Zadran is Afghanistan’s leading run scorer against England, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman has taken the most wickets in this rivalry.
Has England ever lost a T20I to Afghanistan?
No. England has won all T20I matches played against Afghanistan and remains unbeaten in this format.
What is the biggest win in Afghanistan vs England history?
England’s biggest win was by 150 runs in 2019, while Afghanistan’s biggest win was by 69 runs in the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
