Afghanistan National Cricket Team vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team Timeline

Cricket has seen a dramatic transformation in recent years, with teams like Afghanistan emerging from the Associate ranks to become formidable opponents on the global stage. The rivalry between the Afghanistan National Cricket Team and the Australian Men’s Cricket Team has grown significantly since their first official encounter. This article provides a detailed timeline of all matches played between these two teams across all formats — ODI (One Day International) , T20I (Twenty20 International) , and Test — along with head-to-head records and upcoming fixtures, including confirmed matches for 2025.

Table of Contents

Early Encounters and Rise of Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s cricketing journey began as an Associate Member of the ICC, gaining ODI status in 2009 and Test status in 2017. Their rise was meteoric, fueled by talented players like Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Hazratullah Zazai. Australia, a traditional powerhouse in world cricket, faced Afghanistan for the first time in 2012 during the Asia Cup.

Head-to-Head Summary (as of 2024)

Format	Matches	Afghanistan Wins	Australia Wins	No Result/Tied
ODI	10	3	7	0
T20I	8	2	6	0
Test	1	0	1	0
Total	19	5	14	0

Australia holds a clear advantage in the overall head-to-head record, but Afghanistan has managed to secure some memorable victories, especially in the shorter formats.

Match Timeline: All Formats

Below is a comprehensive timeline of all matches played between Afghanistan and Australia across all formats, presented in table format for clarity.

One Day Internationals (ODIs)

Date	Venue	Winner	Margin
March 2, 2012	Mirpur, Bangladesh	Australia	6 wickets
March 6, 2015	Sydney, Australia	Australia	86 runs
February 26, 2016	Mohali, India	Afghanistan	3 wickets
October 18, 2018	Abu Dhabi, UAE	Afghanistan	26 runs
October 21, 2018	Abu Dhabi, UAE	Australia	10 wickets
March 24, 2019	Canberra, Australia	Afghanistan	22 runs
June 25, 2022	Sharjah, UAE	Australia	116 runs
June 28, 2022	Sharjah, UAE	Australia	10 wickets
March 18, 2023	Lucknow, India	Australia	5 wickets
March 21, 2023	Lucknow, India	Australia	8 wickets

Note: Afghanistan won 3 ODIs out of 10 matches against Australia.

Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is)

Date	Venue	Winner	Margin
August 28, 2017	Colombo, Sri Lanka	Australia	12 runs
September 1, 2017	Colombo, Sri Lanka	Australia	6 wickets
November 3, 2019	Dehradun, India	Australia	7 wickets
November 7, 2019	Dehradun, India	Afghanistan	21 runs
November 10, 2019	Dehradun, India	Australia	48 runs
February 23, 2022	Hobart, Australia	Australia	7 wickets
February 26, 2022	Melbourne, Australia	Australia	8 wickets
October 25, 2024	Ahmedabad, India (ICC Men’s T20 World Cup)	Australia	41 runs

Note: Afghanistan won 1 T20I out of 8 matches against Australia.

Test Matches

Date	Venue	Winner	Margin
November 22–26, 2019	Bengaluru, India	Australia	242 runs

Note: This was the only Test match between the two sides as of 2024.

Key Performers in the Rivalry

For Afghanistan:

• Rashid Khan : Leading wicket-taker in both ODI and T20I series.
• Mohammad Nabi : Experienced all-rounder who has often held the innings together.
• Hazratullah Zazai : Explosive opener who scored a blistering 166* off 62 balls in a T20I against Ireland, though not against Australia.
• Mujeeb Ur Rahman : Left-arm spinner effective in controlling the middle overs.

For Australia:

• Mitchell Starc : Fast bowler with a knack for taking early wickets.
• David Warner : Consistent performer in ODIs and T20Is.
• Glenn Maxwell : Known for finishing games under pressure.
• Pat Cummins : Captain and leader of the pace attack.

Memorable Matches Between the Teams

1. Afghanistan vs Australia – ODI, March 6, 2015, Sydney

Australia posted a massive total of 342/6 thanks to centuries from George Bailey and David Warner. In reply, Afghanistan could only manage 256, giving Australia an 86-run win.

2. Afghanistan vs Australia – ODI, February 26, 2016, Mohali

In what was considered a shock upset, Afghanistan chased down 297 with 3 wickets to spare. Mohammad Shahzad top-scored with 78, while Samiullah Shenwari remained unbeaten on 68.

3. Afghanistan vs Australia – T20I, November 7, 2019, Dehradun

Afghanistan pulled off a stunning 21-run victory over Australia. Rashid Khan took 3 wickets, and Gulbadin Naib led from the front with the bat, scoring 64.

4. Afghanistan vs Australia – ODI, March 24, 2019, Canberra

Afghanistan chased down 298 with 2 wickets in hand. Hashmatullah Shahidi scored a crucial 98, and Asghar Afghan finished it off with a composed 45 not out.

Upcoming Fixtures (Confirmed Matches for 2025)

As of late 2024, several bilateral and tournament fixtures have been announced or are expected to be scheduled in 2025 involving Afghanistan and Australia.

Confirmed Matches in 2025:

Date	Format	Venue	Notes
January 15, 2025	T20I	Kabul, Afghanistan	Part of 3-match T20I series
January 18, 2025	T20I	Kabul, Afghanistan	Part of 3-match T20I series
January 20, 2025	T20I	Kabul, Afghanistan	Part of 3-match T20I series
April 20, 2025	ODI	Dharamshala, India	Part of tri-series (India, Australia, Afghanistan)
April 23, 2025	ODI	Guwahati, India	Part of tri-series (India, Australia, Afghanistan)
April 26, 2025	ODI	Visakhapatnam, India	Final of tri-series (if applicable)

These matches will offer Afghanistan another opportunity to challenge one of the strongest teams in world cricket.

Conclusion

The cricketing rivalry between Afghanistan and Australia may still be relatively new, but it has already produced some thrilling contests and standout performances. While Australia remains the stronger side historically, Afghanistan has shown they can compete at the highest level, especially in limited-overs formats.

With more bilateral series and tournament encounters on the horizon — including the confirmed 2025 fixtures — fans can look forward to more exciting battles between these two teams. Whether it’s Rashid Khan bowling a death over or Mitchell Starc swinging the ball under lights, this rivalry promises to grow even more intense in the coming years.