Table of Contents
The Pakistan National Cricket Team Vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Standings offer a fascinating look at the changing balance between two competitive Asian cricket teams. Pakistan enjoyed a dominant record when the rivalry began, but Afghanistan gradually developed into a serious limited-overs opponent. Their first ODI meeting came in 2012, with Pakistan winning by seven wickets. Afghanistan eventually broke their ODI drought against Pakistan at the 2023 Cricket World Cup, securing their first ODI victory over their neighbors with an eight-wicket win. The rivalry has since become more competitive across major tournaments and T20 cricket.
Head-to-Head Standings
Historically, the teams have never played a Test match against each other. Their international encounters are distributed across the One Day International and Twenty20 International formats:
| Cricket Format | Total Matches Played | Pakistan Wins | Afghanistan Wins | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODI One Day | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| T20I Twenty20 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 0 |
| Overall | 23 | 16 | 7 | 0 |
Global ICC Team Rankings 2026
In the official global standings maintained by the International Cricket Council, Pakistan ranks higher in both white-ball and red-ball cricket:
| Format Standings | Pakistan Rank | Afghanistan Rank |
|---|---|---|
| ODI Team Rankings | 5 100 Rating | 8 90 Rating |
| T20I Team Rankings | 6 238 Rating | 10 222 Rating |
| Test Team Rankings | 8 75 Rating | Unranked Under 10 |
Recent Series Results
The standard of competition between the two Asian sides has tightened dramatically. In their latest multi-game encounter during the UAE T20I Tri-Series, Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by 75 runs in the tournament final:
| Match Tournament Date | Format | Venue | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 07, 2025 | T20I Final | Sharjah, UAE | Pakistan | 75 runs |
| September 02, 2025 | T20I League | Sharjah, UAE | Afghanistan | 18 runs |
| August 29, 2025 | T20I League | Sharjah, UAE | Pakistan | 39 runs |
| October 23, 2023 | ODI World Cup | Chennai, India | Afghanistan | 8 wickets |
Highest Individual Batting Scores
| Player Name | Country | Runs Scored | Match Format | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Afghanistan | 151 | ODI | 24 August 2023 |
| Umar Akmal | Pakistan | 102 | ODI | 27 February 2014 |
| Hashmatullah Shahidi | Afghanistan | 97 | ODI | 21 September 2018 |
| Ibrahim Zadran | Afghanistan | 87 | ODI | 23 October 2023 |
| Babar Azam | Pakistan | 74 | ODI | 23 October 2023 |
Top Performing Wicket Takers
| Bowler Name | Country | Total Wickets | Best Bowling Figure | Format Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rashid Khan | Afghanistan | 22 | 3 wickets for 16 runs | Head to Head Leader |
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | Afghanistan | 15 | 3 wickets for 41 runs | Pace Bowling |
| Mohammad Nabi | Afghanistan | 12 | 3 wickets for 34 runs | All Round Spinner |
| Haris Rauf | Pakistan | 12 | 5 wickets for 18 runs | Fast Bowling |
| Mohammad Nawaz | Pakistan | 10 | 5 wickets for 19 runs | Slow Left Arm Spinner |
Stadium Records: Sharjah vs Chennai
| Stadium Venue | Total Matches Played | Pakistan Wins | Afghanistan Wins | Most Recent Historical Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharjah Cricket Stadium UAE | 9 | 6 | 3 | Pakistan won by 75 runs on 07 September 2025 |
| M A Chidambaram Stadium Chennai | 1 | 0 | 1 | Afghanistan won by 8 wickets on 23 October 2023 |
Highest Innings Strike Rates in T20 Head to Head Matches
| Player Name | Team Country | Runs Scored | Balls Faced | Strike Rate | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asif Ali | Pakistan | 25 | 7 | 357.14 | 29 October 2021 |
| Naseem Shah | Pakistan | 14 | 4 | 350.00 | 07 September 2022 |
| Faheem Ashraf | Pakistan | 14 | 5 | 280.00 | 29 August 2025 |
| Rashid Khan | Afghanistan | 39 | 16 | 243.75 | 29 August 2025 |
| Haris Rauf | Pakistan | 34 | 16 | 212.50 | 02 September 2025 |
Rashid Khan Bowling Impact Against Pakistan
Out of his 22 total international wickets against Pakistan, his dominance spans multiple key limited overs assignments:
- T20 International Impact: Rashid has claimed 10 T20I wickets against Pakistan while maintaining a tight economy rate during the crucial middle overs.
- ODI International Impact: He has taken 12 wickets in One Day Internationals against Pakistan, playing a central role in choking the runs during major tournaments like the ICC World Cup and the Asia Cup.
The Unexpected Arrival: Early Meetings and Afghanistan’s Entry into the Asian Equation
The roots of Afghan cricket trace back to Pakistani refugee camps where players first learned the sport. When the Afghanistan Cricket Board expanded, the Pakistan Cricket Board offered technical support, domestic tournament access, and coaching infrastructure. Their inaugural official international fixture took place on 10 February 2012 in a single One Day International match at Sharjah, which Pakistan comfortably won by 7 wickets.
When Rankings Began to Shift: First ODIs and the Points That Mattered
| Match Year | Venue Location | Match Winner | Margin of Victory | Impact on ICC Team Standings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Sharjah UAE | Pakistan | 7 wickets | Earned Pakistan baseline rating points |
| 2013 | Sharjah UAE | Pakistan | 6 wickets | Solidified Pakistan top five ODI position |
| 2014 | Fatullah Bangladesh | Pakistan | 72 runs | Secured Pakistan vital Asia Cup group points |
| 2018 | Abu Dhabi UAE | Pakistan | 3 wickets | Defended Pakistan ranking from falling points |
Asia Cup Flashpoints: Nights When the Underdogs Bit Back
| Tournament Year | Venue Location | Format Type | Match Winner | Defining Final Over Moment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Abu Dhabi UAE | ODI | Pakistan | Shoaib Malik hits winning boundary with 3 balls left |
| 2022 | Sharjah UAE | T20I | Pakistan | Naseem Shah hits two consecutive sixes down 9 wickets |
| 2023 | Kandy Sri Lanka | ODI | Pakistan | Imam ul Haq guides tense chase after early collapses |
World Cup Stages and Qualification Pressure: Survival on the Scoreboard
| Tournament Edition | Match Venue | Pakistan Run Total | Afghanistan Run Total | Official Match Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 World Cup | Leeds England | 230 for 7 wickets | 227 for 9 wickets | Pakistan won by 3 wickets |
| 2023 World Cup | Chennai India | 282 for 7 wickets | 286 for 2 wickets | Afghanistan won by 8 wickets |
T20 Explosions: Power Surges, Collapses and Instant Standings Swings
| Bilateral Series Year | Venue Location | Total Matches | Pakistan Wins | Afghanistan Wins | Series Standing Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Sharjah UAE | 1 | 1 | 0 | Pakistan wins one off match |
| 2021 | Dubai UAE | 1 | 1 | 0 | Pakistan wins World Cup group game |
| 2023 | Sharjah UAE | 3 | 1 | 2 | Afghanistan wins historic series 2 to 1 |
Test Ambitions and the Longer Game: Patience Meets Aggression
| Long Format Parameter | Pakistan National Team Status | Afghanistan National Team Status |
|---|---|---|
| Total Head to Head Tests Played | 0 Matches | 0 Matches |
| Official ICC Test Standing | Active Rank 8 | Unranked due to low match volume |
| Domestic First Class Base | Highly structured Quaid e Azam Trophy | Developing Ahmad Shah Abdali Tournament |
Player Rivalries That Moved the Numbers: Spinners, Pacers and Finishers
The individual statistics inside these matches showcase a clash of distinct styles. High-speed Pakistani pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf consistently challenge the aggressive opening batting style of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran. Conversely, Afghanistan’s elite spin unit led by Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi excels at slowing down the scoring rates of top Pakistani batsmen Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan during the middle overs.
Record Days That Rewrote the Points Table
Specific milestones have fundamentally altered the statistical landscape of this rivalry. Rahmanullah Gurbaz registered the highest individual score in their head-to-head history by smashing 151 runs at Hambantota on 24 August 2023. Fast bowler Haris Rauf produced the most devastating bowling spell by taking 5 wickets for just 18 runs on 22 August 2023, while Afghan batters recorded their highest successful run chase against Pakistan by scoring 286 runs at Chennai on 23 October 2023.
Bilateral Series and the Modern Chase for Ranking Supremacy
Bilateral series are now critical battlegrounds for securing direct qualification positions in major global ICC events. Every victory or defeat alters the decimal rating points on the ICC team ranking boards. These fixtures are no longer treated as casual regional matches, as the outcome determines group seedings, tournament revenue distributions, and direct access to global white-ball events.
What the Latest Standings Still Reveal About This Growing Rivalry
The modern standings reveal that the competitive gap between these neighbor nations has effectively closed. While Pakistan holds the overall historical advantage in total wins, Afghanistan’s landmark series victory in 2023 and dominant World Cup performance show they can defeat Pakistan on any given day. This matchup has grown into a highly competitive, balanced, and emotionally significant event on the international cricket calendar.
Final Thoughts
The Pakistan National Cricket Team Vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Standings show how dramatically this rivalry has evolved. Pakistan still carries greater historical experience and a stronger overall record, but Afghanistan has proven that it can challenge established teams on the biggest stages. Afghanistan’s breakthrough ODI victory in 2023 was a major moment, ending a seven-match losing streak against Pakistan in the format. Their powerful spin attack, improving batting depth and fearless approach have made future meetings increasingly unpredictable. For Pakistan, experience and pressure handling remain important strengths. For Afghanistan, continued consistency could make this one of Asia’s most exciting rivalries.
FAQs
1. When did Pakistan and Afghanistan first play an ODI?
Pakistan and Afghanistan played their first ODI on February 10, 2012, in Sharjah. Pakistan won the match by seven wickets.
2. When did Afghanistan first defeat Pakistan in an ODI?
Afghanistan recorded their first ODI victory over Pakistan during the 2023 Cricket World Cup in Chennai, winning by eight wickets.
3. Which team has the stronger historical record?
Pakistan has the stronger historical record between the two senior men’s teams, although Afghanistan has significantly reduced the gap in recent years.
4. How competitive is their T20I rivalry?
The teams have developed a close T20 rivalry. In five T20Is played at Sharjah before their 2025 tri-series, Pakistan won three while Afghanistan won two.
5. Why has Afghanistan become a difficult opponent for Pakistan?
Afghanistan’s rise has been driven by quality spin bowling, aggressive top-order batting and increasing experience against leading international teams.