In international cricket, the match between Afghanistan and Australia may not have a long or intense history, but it holds a special place for fans around the world. On one side, there is an Australian cricket team who have a rich legacy, world titles, and generations of star players. On the other side, there is the Afghanistan cricket team who has risen through struggle and hardship to earn its place on the global stage. Whenever these two teams face off, it is more than just a game because of a meeting of two different cricketing worlds.
Today, through this article let us take a look closer at the Afghanistan National Cricket Team vs Australian Men’s Cricket team timeline.
Afghanistan National Cricket Team vs Australian Men’s Cricket team Head-to-Head Overview
| Format | Matches Played | Afghanistan Wins | Australia Wins | No Result |
| ODIs | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| T20s | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Test Matches | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
Afghanistan National Cricket Team vs Australian Men’s Cricket team timeline
History of Afghanistan National Cricket Team and Australia Men’s Cricket Team
Afghanistan has a young cricket team that recently became a full member of the ICC. Their journey in cricket is truly inspiring, as they began in refugee camps, where many players first learned the game, and slowly they worked their way up to the international level. In 2017, they achieved a big milestone by getting Test status. Today, players like Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman are known all around the world, especially for their performances in T20 cricket.
On the other hand, Australia is one of the oldest cricketing nations, with a legacy that dates back to the 1800s. They have won multiple ICC Cricket World Cups, and produced legends like Sir Donald Bradman, Shane Warne, Ricky Ponting, who are known for their aggressive, disciplined brand of cricket.
First Official Match: ICC World Cup 2015
Match Overview
Date: March 4, 2015
Venue: WACA Ground, Perth
Format: One Day International (ODI)
Tournament: ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
Result: Australia won by 275 runs
Australia and Afghanistan men’s cricket team first faced off in a one day international match format during the group stage of the 2015 World Cup. The match was historic for Afghanistan, as it marked their first-ever encounter with the Australian team.
The Australian team set a record at the time for their highest ODI total of 417/6 in 50 overs in which David Warner smashed 178 runs off 133 balls. Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell added explosive cameos. Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood really performed well. In reply, the Afghanistan team was all out by just making 142 runs.
As the Afghanistan team bowled out on a very low score, though the match was one-sided, it gave the Afghan team exposure to the intensity and standards of elite-level cricket.
Second Meeting – ICC World Cup 2019
Match Overview;
Date: June 1, 2019
Venue: County Ground, Bristol
Format: ODI
Tournament: ICC Cricket World Cup 2019
Result: Australia won by 7 wickets.
After four years, these two teams again faced off in the World Cup group stage in England.
This time Afghanistan scored 207 all out, with Najibullah Zadran top-scoring. Pat Cummins and Adam Zampa were clinical with the ball. David Warner scored a patient 89*, ensuring a steady chase. But Australia again won the match by 7 wickets.
However this time, Afghanistan showed significant improvement from 2015, both in their temperament and execution.
2020: Test Match That Never Happened
Match Overview;
Proposed Date: November 2020
Venue: Hobart, Australia
Format: Test Match
This was supposed to be a historic occasion, as Afghanistan’s first-ever Test match against Australia. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 travel restrictions and later the political crisis in Afghanistan, the match was cancelled.
This missed opportunity was disappointing for fans of both sides. For Afghanistan, it would have been a major step forward in red-ball cricket. For Australia, it was a chance to welcome a rising team onto their turf. The match has not been rescheduled since today.
T20 World Cup 2022 Match
Match Overview:
Date: November 4, 2022
Venue: Adelaide Oval, Australia
Format: T20 International
Tournament: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022
Result: Australia won by 4 runs.
In 2022, during the T20 World Cup in Australia, Afghanistan played a Super 12 match against Australia.
Firstly, Australia batted, and scored 168/8 in which Glenn Maxwell scored a not out inning on 54 runs on just 32 balls.
From the Afghanistan team, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran provided a solid start and also Rashid Khan’s innings of 48* off 23 almost stole the game, but Australia held their nerve. This was one of the closest matches between these two teams.
During that match, Afghanistan earned global praise for their fighting spirit and strategic bowling, while Australia realized the Afghanistan cricket team was no longer a fledgling side.
ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023
Match Overview:
Date: November 7, 2023
Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Format: ODI
Tournament: ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023
Result: Afghanistan beat Australia by 69 runs.
In 2023, the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup became one of the most talked-about upsets in recent World Cup history.
Afghanistan team scored a total of 295 on losing 5 wickets by the inning of their top batsman Ibrahim Zadran, as he scored 129 off 143 balls.
Also, Australia started well but collapsed dramatically against Naveen-ul-Haq and Rashid Khan, who picked 3 wickets each. This victory was Afghanistan’s first ever win against Australia in any format. It also virtually ended Australia’s semi-final hopes in the tournament, making the win even more significant.
Moreover, this match changed the narrative that Afghanistan was no longer just a promising team, they were giant-killers.
ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Match Overview:
Date: 28 February 2025
Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Format: ODI
Tournament: ICC Champions Trophy
Result: No result
In the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, Afghanistan and Australia faced off in a high-stakes Group B encounter on February 28, 2025.
In this match, Afghanistan batted first and scored 273 runs in 50 overs in which Sediqullah Atal scored 85 on 95 balls. Also, Azmatullah Omarzai scored 67 out of 63 balls.
However, Australia had to chase 274, also reaching 109/1 in just 12.5 overs, Travis Head made rapid 59 not out off 40 balls, featuring nine fours.
Steven Smith was unbeaten on 19 off 22 balls, while opener Matthew Short contributed 20 off 15 balls before exiting due to a quad injury.
Unfortunately, the match was abandoned without a result due to heavy rain which made the pitch unsuitable for play.
Conclusion
The Afghanistan vs Australia men’s cricket match timeline is not just about matches, scores, or results. It is about cricket’s ability to connect two completely different cricketing journeys as one rooted in legacy, and the other born from struggle.
From a crushing 275-run defeat in 2015 to a shocking upset in 2023, Afghanistan’s rise has been phenomenal. For Australia, these games serve as a reminder of the unpredictability of modern cricket, and the beauty of emerging teams challenging the old order.
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