Cricket has deep roots in tradition, yet it is also highly dynamic, as new teams and players are created to meet the demands of the public. The story of the Afghanistan national cricket team is one of the most captivating stories in modern day cricket with the Afghanistan national cricket team going from the outskirts of international cricket to play against the best teams in world cricket, including England, the birthplace of cricket and one of the elite countries of the sport. Looking at the record of matches played between England and Afghanistan reveals the discrepancy of experiences with an emerging cricketing country, but also a thirst for competition. In this blog, we will assess the journey of the Afghanistan national cricket team vs England cricket team timeline with a special regard to the head to head record between the two teams across all formats.
The Start: Early ODI Fixtures
Although the matches were not plentiful, the struggle apex was in this format in One Day Internationals as England and Afghanistan contested a total of 4 ODIs. Most of the ODIs were contested at neutral venues, whereby the teams were contesting in ICC tournaments – you’ll guess it, World Cups.
->Overall ODI Head-to-Head Summary
| Category | England | Afghanistan | Total |
| Matches Played | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Wins | 2 | 2 | |
| Tied Matches | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No Result | 0 | 0 | 0 |
->Venue Summary
| Venue Type | Matches | England Wins | Afghanistan Wins |
| Neutral Venues | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Home (England) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Home (Afghanistan) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Although the matches have not been extensive, it is interesting to note that Afghanistan has actually achieved success against England twice.
ODI Matches to Note Between Afghanistan & England
1) ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 (June 18, 2019 – Manchester, England)
This was an important match in the Afghanistan national cricket team vs England cricket team timeline as it was played in England. England simply obliterated Afghanistan by winning by 150 runs. The one-sided game was as England’s batting order & Eoin Morgan, who belted 148 off 71 balls, simply smashed Afghanistan’s bowling order.
2) Match Summary
- England: 397/6 (50 overs)
- Afghanistan: 247/8 (50 overs)
- Result: England won by 150 runs.
This match highlighted the class difference at the time but it also showed that while Afghanistan was not able to match competitiveness to England, they were strong enough to face all 50 overs of the game, even if the chase (runs) was simply unattainable.
T20 International Encounters: England’s Dominance
The record in the shortest format of cricket has been less favorable for Afghanistan. The two teams have played a total of three T20 Internationals (all at neutral venues), and England have won each match.
1) Head-to-Head T20 International Summary
| Category | Details |
| Matches Played | 3 |
| Won by England | 3 |
| Won by Afghanistan | 0 |
| Neutral Venues | 3 |
| Matches in Afghanistan | 0 |
| Matches in England | 0 |
2) Key Points of Interest from T20Is
When we think about these T20 matches, they came during ICC T20 World Cups and England’s experience and depth in quality of squad has made the difference. Afghanistan have some really explosive players like Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman with the bat and ball, but they have not yet been able to get over the line against England in this format.
We have seen some breathtaking flashes of play from the Afghan players — be it a breathtaking 30 or a few outstanding overs with ball in hand — but too often we have seen the quality and experience of England to be too much for Afghanistan, consistent limited overs exploits aside.
Test Cricket: A Journey Not Yet Started
So, in Test cricket, the longest and traditional format, there has not been a single match between the two sides.
Afghanistan acquired Test status in 2017 and have played India, Ireland, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in Test matches. They have still to play against England, one of the oldest Test-playing nations. When the two nations finally meet, it will not only be a good cricketing contest, it would be a historic moment when Afghanistan is able to play a Test match against England, fulfilling the dream of so many who were and are involved in Afghanistan cricket in all formats.
Summary: Head-to-Head Records
| Format | Matches Played | Afghanistan Wins | England Wins | Ties | No Result |
| ODI | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| T20I | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Test | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The Bigger Picture: The Journey of Afghanistan Cricket
Our head-to-head records do not depict the remarkable narrative of Afghanistan cricket. In less than 20 years, it has gone from a war-torn nation, with hardly any infrastructure, to a competitive team on the global stage.
To beat an establishment team like England is not just a victory on paper; it is a victory of resilience, talent, and relentless pursuit of excellence. With gifted youngsters, good reserves of spin bowlers, and increased experience, Afghanistan’s cricket profile is now one that cannot be underestimated.
Considering the Future: Where Next for This Rivalry
Cricket continues to broaden and with it, we can expect to see more, and more competitive matches between Afghanistan and England. Whether through a bilateral ODI series, T20 internationals, or a possible Test Match either at Lords or at a new stadium in Kabul, the potential for an underdog-vs-giant rivalry to grow is certainly an exciting prospect.
Now, although England have the edge in T20s and lead history, we now know that on their day Afghanistan can surprise anyone.
As cricket fans, we have something to look forward to in years to come with thrilling contests — every match will build onto the underlying timeline between Afghanistan and England cricketers.
Conclusion
The timeline of games played involving the Afghanistan and England cricket teams is still new, filled with suspense, overwhelming and transformational moments. We have gone from England’s T20 dominance to Afghanistan’s stunning wins in ODIs, and this growing rivalry showcases much more than just cricketing prowess, it speaks to a deeper narrative of determination, development and prospects.
Afghanistan are still developing their legacy, but their wins against a cricketing powerhouse like England demonstrates they are on a trajectory to greatness.
Must Read:
