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The Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team Matches have become an increasingly fascinating part of modern international cricket. Although Australia has traditionally been one of the strongest teams in world cricket, Afghanistan have developed rapidly and have produced several memorable performances against the five-time ODI World Cup champions.
The rivalry has been particularly interesting in ICC tournaments. Australia dominated the early meetings, but Afghanistan’s historic victory in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup changed the narrative. Afghanistan defeated Australia by 21 runs in Kingstown, recording their first international win over Australia in any format.
The two teams have also produced unforgettable World Cup matches. In 2023, Australia completed one of the most remarkable comebacks in ODI World Cup history when Glenn Maxwell scored an unbeaten 201 to help Australia chase Afghanistan’s 291. In 2025, their Champions Trophy meeting ended without a result because of rain.
This article covers the complete history of Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team Matches, including head-to-head records, major ODI and T20I encounters, World Cup meetings, memorable performances, biggest wins and important moments.
Afghanistan vs Australia Head-to-Head Record
Afghanistan and Australia have met five times in men’s ODIs. Australia have won four of those matches, while one match ended without a result. Afghanistan are yet to defeat Australia in an ODI.
In T20 internationals, however, the teams are level. They have played two T20Is, with Afghanistan winning one and Australia winning one. Both matches were played at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
There has been no Test match between Afghanistan and Australia to date.
| Format | Matches | Afghanistan Wins | Australia Wins | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ODIs | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| T20Is | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Overall | 7 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
The overall record shows Australia’s historical advantage, but Afghanistan’s recent progress is clear. Their T20I victory in 2024 demonstrated that they are capable of defeating elite opposition on the biggest stage.
First Afghanistan vs Australia Match in 2012
The first official ODI between Afghanistan and Australia was played at Sharjah on August 25, 2012. Australia scored 272/8 in 50 overs, with Matthew Wade and Michael Clarke both making 75. Afghanistan were bowled out for 206 in 43.5 overs, giving Australia a 66-run victory. Mitchell Starc was named Player of the Match after taking four wickets.
The match was an important occasion for Afghanistan because they were beginning to establish themselves against full-member nations. Despite the defeat, their competitive performance demonstrated the potential of their emerging cricket team.
2012 Afghanistan vs Australia ODI Scorecard
| Team | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 272/8 | Won |
| Afghanistan | 206 all out | Lost |
| Margin | — | Australia won by 66 runs |
Michael Clarke and Matthew Wade provided the foundation for Australia’s total, while Mitchell Starc led the bowling attack. Afghanistan’s Asghar Afghan top-scored with 66.
Afghanistan vs Australia at the 2015 Cricket World Cup
One of the most one-sided matches in the history of Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team Matches took place during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup in Perth.
Australia scored a massive 417/6 in 50 overs. David Warner produced a spectacular 178 from 133 balls, while Steve Smith scored 95 and Glenn Maxwell smashed 88 from just 39 deliveries. Australia eventually bowled Afghanistan out for 142 and won by 275 runs.
The 417/6 total was a World Cup record at the time, while Australia’s 275-run victory was the biggest winning margin in World Cup history at that point.
2015 World Cup Match Summary
| Team | Score | Overs | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 417/6 | 50 | Won |
| Afghanistan | 142 | 37.3 | Lost |
| Winning margin | — | — | Australia won by 275 runs |
David Warner’s 178 was the outstanding performance of the match. Glenn Maxwell’s 88 from 39 balls also demonstrated Australia’s enormous batting power.
For Afghanistan, the match was a valuable experience against one of the strongest sides in international cricket.
Afghanistan vs Australia at the 2019 Cricket World Cup
The teams met again at the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup in Bristol. Afghanistan batted first and scored 207 before being bowled out.
Australia chased down the target comfortably, reaching 209/3 to win by seven wickets. The result continued Australia’s unbeaten ODI record against Afghanistan.
| Year | Tournament | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | ODI in Sharjah | Australia won by 66 runs |
| 2015 | Cricket World Cup | Australia won by 275 runs |
| 2019 | Cricket World Cup | Australia won by 7 wickets |
Although Afghanistan lost, their growing experience at World Cups helped prepare the team for more competitive performances against top-ranked nations.
Afghanistan vs Australia in the 2022 T20 World Cup
The 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup produced a much closer Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team Matches encounter.
Australia made 168/8 at Adelaide Oval, while Afghanistan fought back strongly and finished on 164/7. Australia survived by only four runs.
Glenn Maxwell was named Player of the Match for his contribution to Australia’s victory. Rashid Khan produced a thrilling late assault for Afghanistan, scoring an unbeaten 48, but Australia managed to defend their total.
2022 T20 World Cup Scorecard
| Team | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 168/8 | Won |
| Afghanistan | 164/7 | Lost |
| Margin | — | Australia won by 4 runs |
The four-run victory was a warning sign for Australia. Afghanistan were getting closer to defeating them, and that breakthrough eventually arrived in 2024.
Historic Afghanistan Victory in 2024
The most important chapter in Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team Matches history came on June 23, 2024, at Arnos Vale in Kingstown during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Afghanistan batted first and scored 148/6 from 20 overs. Rahmanullah Gurbaz made 60 and Ibrahim Zadran scored 51, forming an important 118-run opening partnership.
Australia struggled badly during the chase. Afghanistan’s bowlers continually created pressure, and Australia were eventually dismissed for 127 in 19.2 overs.
Afghanistan won by 21 runs.
The victory was historic because it was Afghanistan’s first international win over Australia in any format. Gulbadin Naib was named Player of the Match after taking four wickets.
2024 T20 World Cup Scorecard
| Team | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 148/6 | Won |
| Australia | 127 | Lost |
| Margin | — | Afghanistan won by 21 runs |
This match became one of the defining victories in Afghanistan’s cricket history.
Why the 2024 Victory Was So Important
Afghanistan had previously pushed Australia close in the 2022 T20 World Cup and had suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
The 2024 victory finally gave Afghanistan a win against Australia and proved that their bowling attack could challenge one of the world’s best batting line-ups.
Gulbadin Naib’s four wickets were crucial, while Naveen-ul-Haq also bowled an outstanding spell. Afghanistan’s spinners and seamers combined effectively to prevent Australia’s middle order from completing the chase.
The win also strengthened Afghanistan’s confidence during their historic 2024 T20 World Cup campaign.
The Incredible 2023 ODI World Cup Match
Before Afghanistan’s historic T20I victory, Australia and Afghanistan played one of the most unforgettable ODI matches ever seen between the teams.
The match took place at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on November 7, 2023. Afghanistan scored 291/5, with Ibrahim Zadran making a century and producing an excellent batting performance.
Australia appeared to be in serious trouble during the chase. At one point, Australia were 91/7.
Then Glenn Maxwell produced an extraordinary innings.
Maxwell remained unbeaten on 201 as Australia reached 293/7 in 46.5 overs and won by three wickets. He became the first batter to score a double century in an ODI run chase.
2023 World Cup Match
| Team | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 291/5 | Lost |
| Australia | 293/7 | Won |
| Margin | — | Australia won by 3 wickets |
| Venue | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | — |
This was one of the most painful defeats for Afghanistan because they were extremely close to recording their first ODI victory over Australia.
Glenn Maxwell’s 201 Not Out
Glenn Maxwell’s unbeaten 201 remains the defining individual performance in Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team Matches.
Australia had lost seven wickets for 91 runs, and victory looked highly unlikely. Maxwell, despite struggling physically, continued attacking the Afghan bowlers.
His innings completely changed the match.
The Australian all-rounder combined power hitting with calculated shot selection and received crucial support from captain Pat Cummins, who stayed at the other end while Maxwell controlled the chase.
Australia eventually reached 293/7, winning with 19 balls remaining.
For Afghanistan, the defeat was heartbreaking, but it also demonstrated how competitive they had become against elite opposition.
Afghanistan vs Australia in the 2025 Champions Trophy
The latest completed ODI meeting between Afghanistan and Australia before the current date was during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
The match was played at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on February 28, 2025. Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bat, scoring 273 all out in 50 overs. Sediqullah Atal scored 85, while Azmatullah Omarzai contributed 67.
Australia began the chase strongly. Matt Short scored 20 before being dismissed, while Travis Head raced to 59 not out from 40 balls. Australia reached 109/1 after 12.5 overs.
Then heavy rain stopped play.
The match was eventually abandoned without a result. Australia received a point and advanced to the semi-finals.
2025 Champions Trophy Match Summary
| Team | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 273 all out | No Result |
| Australia | 109/1 in 12.5 overs | No Result |
| Venue | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore | — |
| Date | February 28, 2025 | — |
This result means Afghanistan still have not defeated Australia in an ODI.
Complete Afghanistan vs Australia ODI Results
The ODI history between Afghanistan and Australia currently contains five matches: four Australian victories and one no-result game.
| Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 25, 2012 | ODI | Australia won by 66 runs |
| Mar 4, 2015 | ICC Cricket World Cup | Australia won by 275 runs |
| Jun 1, 2019 | ICC Cricket World Cup | Australia won by 7 wickets |
| Nov 7, 2023 | ICC Cricket World Cup | Australia won by 3 wickets |
| Feb 28, 2025 | ICC Champions Trophy | No Result |
This table shows an interesting progression. Australia’s first three ODI victories were relatively comfortable, while the 2023 match was an extremely close contest and the 2025 game was abandoned while Australia were chasing.
Complete Afghanistan vs Australia T20I Results
The T20I rivalry is much more balanced.
| Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 4, 2022 | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup | Australia won by 4 runs |
| Jun 23, 2024 | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup | Afghanistan won by 21 runs |
The teams are therefore tied 1-1 in T20Is.
Biggest Afghanistan vs Australia Wins
Australia’s biggest victory over Afghanistan came in the 2015 World Cup when they won by 275 runs.
Afghanistan’s biggest and only victory over Australia came in the 2024 T20 World Cup, when they won by 21 runs.
| Team | Biggest Win | Year | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 275 runs | 2015 | ODI |
| Afghanistan | 21 runs | 2024 | T20I |
The difference between the two biggest margins illustrates how dramatically the rivalry has evolved.
Most Memorable Players in the Rivalry
Several players have played important roles in Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team Matches.
Glenn Maxwell: Maxwell has produced two extraordinary performances against Afghanistan. In 2023, his unbeaten 201 rescued Australia from 91/7. In the 2022 T20 World Cup, he was Player of the Match in Australia’s four-run victory.
David Warner: Warner scored a brilliant 178 in Australia’s 2015 World Cup victory, helping Australia reach 417/6.
Gulbadin Naib: Naib played a decisive role in Afghanistan’s historic 2024 T20 World Cup victory, taking four wickets and earning Player of the Match honours.
Rashid Khan: Afghanistan’s captain and premier spinner has been central to the team’s rise. His all-round influence was particularly important during Afghanistan’s close contests against Australia.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz: Gurbaz played a major role in Afghanistan’s historic 2024 victory, scoring 60 in the opening partnership that set up the team’s 148/6 total.
Afghanistan’s Growth Against Australia
The history of these matches reflects Afghanistan’s rapid development as an international cricket team.
In 2012, Australia controlled the contest and won by 66 runs. Three years later, Australia dominated the 2015 World Cup match by 275 runs.
By 2019, Australia still won comfortably, but Afghanistan continued to gain experience against elite teams.
The 2022 T20 World Cup showed that Afghanistan could push Australia to the final stages of a match. Australia won by just four runs.
In 2023, Afghanistan came within a few runs of an ODI victory before Maxwell’s extraordinary double century changed the match.
Finally, in 2024, Afghanistan achieved the breakthrough they had been chasing. They defeated Australia by 21 runs and recorded their first win over the Australian men’s team.
The 2025 Champions Trophy match was another competitive encounter, although rain prevented a result.
Afghanistan vs Australia World Cup History
Most Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team Matches have taken place at major ICC tournaments.
| Year | Tournament | Format | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Cricket World Cup | ODI | Australia won |
| 2019 | Cricket World Cup | ODI | Australia won |
| 2022 | T20 World Cup | T20I | Australia won |
| 2023 | Cricket World Cup | ODI | Australia won |
| 2024 | T20 World Cup | T20I | Afghanistan won |
| 2025 | Champions Trophy | ODI | No Result |
This makes their rivalry particularly significant because their meetings have generally happened in high-pressure international tournaments rather than regular bilateral series.
What Makes Afghanistan vs Australia Matches Special?
The contrast between the two teams makes these matches especially interesting.
Australia bring decades of experience, a deep talent pool, powerful batting and a long history of success in ICC tournaments.
Afghanistan have built their identity around aggressive cricket, world-class spin bowling and fearless young batters.
Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmad and Afghanistan’s fast bowlers can create problems for Australia’s aggressive batting line-up. At the same time, Australia’s pace attack and experienced middle order can put Afghanistan under enormous pressure.
The 2023 and 2024 matches perfectly demonstrate this contrast. Australia produced an incredible comeback in 2023, while Afghanistan responded with their own historic victory one year later.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times have Afghanistan and Australia played ODI matches?
Afghanistan and Australia have played five ODI matches. Australia have won four, while one match ended without a result. Afghanistan have not yet beaten Australia in an ODI.
How many T20Is have Afghanistan and Australia played?
The teams have played two T20Is. Afghanistan and Australia have each won one match.
Has Afghanistan ever defeated Australia in cricket?
Yes. Afghanistan defeated Australia by 21 runs in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. It was Afghanistan’s first international victory over Australia in any format.
Who won the Afghanistan vs Australia 2023 World Cup match?
Australia won by three wickets after chasing Afghanistan’s 291/5. Glenn Maxwell scored an unbeaten 201, producing one of the greatest ODI World Cup innings.
What was Australia’s biggest win over Afghanistan?
Australia’s biggest win came in the 2015 Cricket World Cup. They defeated Afghanistan by 275 runs after scoring 417/6.
What was Afghanistan’s biggest win over Australia?
Afghanistan’s biggest and only win over Australia came in the 2024 T20 World Cup, when they won by 21 runs.
Did Afghanistan and Australia play in the 2025 Champions Trophy?
Yes. Afghanistan scored 273, while Australia reached 109/1 in 12.5 overs before rain stopped the match. It was eventually abandoned without a result.
Have Afghanistan and Australia played a Test match?
No. Afghanistan and Australia have not played a men’s Test match against each other.
Conclusion
The history of Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team Matches is a story of Afghanistan’s remarkable rise in international cricket.
Australia dominated the early encounters, including a 275-run victory at the 2015 World Cup. The 2019 World Cup produced another Australian win, while the 2022 T20 World Cup saw Australia survive a thrilling four-run contest.
The rivalry changed dramatically in 2023 when Afghanistan nearly defeated Australia in the ODI World Cup. Glenn Maxwell’s unbeaten 201 rescued Australia and produced one of the most memorable matches in World Cup history.
In 2024, Afghanistan finally achieved their breakthrough. They defeated Australia by 21 runs in the T20 World Cup, recording their first victory over the Australian men’s team.
The 2025 Champions Trophy encounter ended in a rain-affected no-result, but Afghanistan again showed that they could compete with Australia at the highest level.
With Afghanistan continuing to develop and Australia remaining one of international cricket’s strongest teams, future Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team Matches are likely to produce more memorable moments, close finishes and historic performances.
