Damon Mcknight
Afghanistan's national cricket team was formed following the U.S.-led invasion in 2001. Cricket has been played in Afghanistan since the mid-19th century, but the national team only began to enjoy success in the early 21st century. The Afghanistan Cricket Board was formed in 1995 and became an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2001. The team is now ranked 10th in Twenty20 International (T20I) cricket as of February 2023.
The popularity of cricket in Afghanistan is partly due to the country's border with Pakistan, a Test-playing nation. Many Afghan refugees in Pakistan during the 1990s picked up the sport and members of the early national team grew up in Pakistan, participating in the country's domestic cricket structure.
Despite the Taliban's regressive stance on women in cricket, the men's game is one of the few pastimes accepted by the regime. The Afghanistan Cricket Board has had to arrange UAE residency visas for about two dozen players to avoid travel issues when it comes to cricket tours. The team does not play home matches inside Afghanistan due to the ongoing security situation and the lack of international-standard facilities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Formation of the national cricket team | 2001 |
| Popularity of cricket in Afghanistan | Cricket is the most popular sport in Afghanistan |
| Afghanistan Cricket Board formation | 1995 |
| Membership of the International Cricket Council (ICC) | Affiliate member in 2001, Associate member in 2013, Full member in 2017 |
| Membership of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) | 2003 |
| Home grounds | Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE, previously Shahid Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida, Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun, and Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow |
| Current ranking in Twenty20 International (T20I) cricket | 10th as of February 2023 |
| Highest T20I score | 2nd highest ever T20I score of 278/3 against Ireland at Dehradun on February 23, 2019 |
| Status of the women's cricket team | Fledgling women's cricket scene has all but disappeared under the Taliban |
| Status of cricket under the Taliban | Cricket is one of the few pastimes accepted by the Taliban |
| Afghanistan's standing in the 2023 Cricket World Cup | Defeated England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands consecutively |
What You'll Learn
- The Afghanistan Cricket Board was formed in 1995 and became an affiliate member of the ICC in 2001
- Cricket is the most popular sport in Afghanistan
- The national team was formed in 2001 and has since become a serious contender in international men's championships
- The team is ranked 10th in Twenty20 International cricket as of February 2023
- The Afghanistan Cricket Board is revamping its corporate and domestic cricket structure and upgrading facilities in Kabul
The Afghanistan Cricket Board was formed in 1995 and became an affiliate member of the ICC in 2001
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) was formed in 1995, initially as the Afghanistan Cricket Federation. Cricket had grown in popularity among Afghan refugees in Pakistan during the 1990s, and the Federation continued to play cricket upon their return to Afghanistan in late 2001.
In 2001, the Afghanistan Cricket Federation became an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC). This marked the beginning of an incredible journey in the history of Afghan sports. The Federation was recognised as an affiliate member of the ICC the following year, in 2001, and subsequently became an associate member of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in 2003.
In 2009, the Afghanistan Cricket Federation was elevated to an independent board, namely the Afghanistan Cricket Board, by decree of the President of Afghanistan. This increased independence allowed the ACB to adopt good governance practices and ensured that key relevant results were delivered in terms of accountability, responsibility, transparency and solidarity.
In June 2013, the ACB became an associate member of the ICC, a status it held until 2017 when it became a full member.
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Cricket is the most popular sport in Afghanistan
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is the official governing body of cricket in Afghanistan. The Afghanistan Cricket Federation was formed in 1995, and it became an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2001. Afghanistan became a full member of the ICC on 22 June 2017, enabling the national team to participate in official Test matches.
Cricket's popularity in Afghanistan is partly due to its proximity to Pakistan, a Test-playing nation. In the 1990s, cricket became popular among Afghan refugees in Pakistan, and many members of the early Afghanistan national cricket team grew up in Pakistan.
The Afghanistan national cricket team has had notable successes in international competitions. They have qualified for the last three Cricket World Cup tournaments, including the 2015 Cricket World Cup, which was their debut. In 2019, Afghanistan achieved their first Test match victory, becoming only the fourth team to win one of their first two Tests. In 2023, Afghanistan secured a historic victory over England, the defending Cricket World Cup champions.
Despite challenges and setbacks, cricket in Afghanistan continues to thrive and is a source of national pride and happiness for many Afghans.
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The national team was formed in 2001 and has since become a serious contender in international men's championships
Afghanistan's national cricket team was formed in 2001, following the US-led invasion of the country. The team began to enjoy success in the early 21st century, becoming a serious contender in international men's championships.
The Afghanistan Cricket Federation (ACF), now known as the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), was founded in 1995 and became an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2001. The ACF received recognition from the ICC in 2001, and the following year, the national team played in Pakistan's domestic setup for the first time.
The Afghanistan national cricket team has since gone on to achieve notable successes, including winning the ACC Twenty20 Cup a record four times (2007, 2009, 2011, and 2013), winning the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier, and achieving Full Member status with the ICC in 2017.
The team is currently ranked 10th in Twenty20 International (T20I) cricket as of February 2023 and holds the world record for the 2nd highest T20I score. They have participated in three Cricket World Cups (2015, 2019, and 2023) and have secured historic victories over cricketing powerhouses such as England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Despite facing challenges due to the country's political situation and the Taliban's stance on women's participation in sports, the Afghanistan national cricket team continues to be a source of pride and joy for many Afghans and has become a serious contender in international men's championships.
The team is ranked 10th in Twenty20 International cricket as of February 2023
The Afghanistan men's national cricket team has been ranked 10th in Twenty20 International (T20I) cricket as of February 2023. This ranking is a testament to the team's rapid rise in international cricket and their impressive performances in recent years.
The Afghanistan Cricket Federation, now known as the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), was formed in 1995, and the national team began to enjoy success in the early 21st century. They gained affiliate membership of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2001 and became a member of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in 2003.
The Afghanistan national team first gained prominence through their performances in the World Cricket League. They participated in the 2009 World Cup Qualifier and progressed to their first major tournament, the 2010 ICC World Twenty20. They continued to impress by winning the Intercontinental Cup in 2010, beating Scotland in the final.
In 2011, Afghanistan gained One Day International (ODI) status for four years, despite failing to qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup. Their growth in international cricket has been rapid, and they have continued to punch above their weight. In 2016, they surprised many by beating the Windies in the T20I World Cup.
The Afghanistan team was awarded Test status in 2017, along with Ireland, becoming the twelfth Test cricket-playing nation. They played their first-ever Test match against India in 2018 and registered their first Test win against Ireland in 2019, becoming the joint second-fastest to a maiden Test match victory.
The Afghanistan cricket team has overcome numerous challenges, including the lack of international standard facilities and the ongoing security situation in their country. They have also faced recent setbacks due to the Taliban's takeover, with several cricket board members fleeing the country and sponsors pulling out. Despite these difficulties, the team has continued to find success on the field, and their ranking of 10th in T20I cricket as of February 2023 is a testament to their resilience and skill.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board is revamping its corporate and domestic cricket structure and upgrading facilities in Kabul
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is revamping its corporate and domestic cricket structure and upgrading facilities in Kabul to include a high-performance centre. The ACB is the official governing body of cricket in Afghanistan, and its headquarters are in Kabul.
The ACB has been working on revamping its entire board structure and policy-making to make it more transparent. This includes expanding the game to other regions in Afghanistan, such as Kandahar and Khost, and setting up exclusive and specialist coaching setups in each region. The ACB is also working on making the cricket system more professional, with a focus on player development.
Upgrading facilities in Kabul is a key part of the ACB's plans. Kabul has been the main centre for cricket in Afghanistan, but the board is now looking to expand to other venues as well. The ACB is upgrading facilities in Kabul to include a high-performance centre. This includes the development of the Afghanistan National Cricket Academy, which has been funded by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
In addition to upgrading facilities in Kabul, the ACB is also constructing new cricket grounds across the country. The ACB has secured land in Kabul for the construction of a new stadium that will meet international standards and include a range of supporting facilities. This new stadium is part of the ACB's efforts to bring international cricket games to the country.
The ACB's efforts to revamp its corporate and domestic cricket structure and upgrade facilities in Kabul demonstrate its commitment to growing and improving cricket in Afghanistan.
Frequently asked questions
Cricket was first played in Afghanistan during the 19th-century Anglo-Afghan Wars, with British troops reported to have played in Kabul in 1839. However, it was not until the 1980s and 1990s, when Afghan refugees in Pakistan learned the sport, that cricket became popular in Afghanistan.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board was formed in 1995, and the national team was formed in 2001.
The Taliban initially banned all sports, including cricket. However, in 2000, cricket became the only sport in Afghanistan approved by the Taliban. After the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan in 2021, the Afghanistan Cricket Board faced challenges due to the departure of staff and the need to arrange UAE residency visas for players. The team also faced criticism for meeting with Taliban leaders and has struggled with sponsorship and funding.
