The Afghanistan vs England rivalry has evolved from David-Goliath mismatches into gripping battles of skill, nerve, and national pride. From Mujeeb’s 2023 World Cup magic to Zadran’s record-shattering 177 in the 2025 Champions Trophy, Afghanistan has repeatedly stunned the white-ball giants, rewriting stats, sparking joy across Kabul, and proving courage can topple experience.
Latest Matches
Recent Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs England National Cricket Team Timeline encounters across formats (as of March 2026)
Tournament
Venue
Date
Toss
Afghanistan Score
England Score
Result
Series
Player of the Match
ICC Champions Trophy
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Feb 26, 2025
Afghan (bat)
325/7 (50 overs)
317 (49.5 overs)
Afghanistan won by 8 runs
ICC Champions Trophy
Ibrahim Zadran (AFG)
ICC Cricket World Cup
Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Oct 15, 2023
England (field)
284 (49.5 overs)
215 (40.3 overs)
Afghanistan won by 69 runs
ICC Cricket World Cup
Mujeeb Ur Rahman (AFG)
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup
Perth Stadium, Perth
Oct 22, 2022
England (field)
112 (19.4 overs)
113/5 (18.1 overs)
England won by 5 wkts (11b rem)
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup
Sam Curran (ENG)
World T20
Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Mar 23, 2016
England (bat)
127/9 (20 overs)
142/7 (20 overs)
England won by 15 runs
World T20
Moeen Ali (ENG)
ICC World Twenty20
R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Sep 21, 2012
Afghan (field)
80 (17.2 overs)
196/5 (20 overs)
England won by 116 runs
ICC World Twenty20
Luke Wright (ENG)
Strength Comparison – Key Areas (2026 Perspective)
Afghanistan elected to bat; slumped to 37/3 in 8.5 overs
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (6), others dismissed early
Crisis mode activated; set stage for epic comeback
England pacers (Archer) struck early – looked dominant!
Rescue & Record Knock
Ibrahim Zadran anchors from 37/3 → builds massive total
Ibrahim Zadran 177 (146 balls, 12×4, 6×6)
Highest score in Champions Trophy history; Afghanistan’s all-time ODI high
Patient 50 in 65 balls → explosive 177; broke Ben Duckett’s tournament record
Key Partnerships
103-run 4th wkt with Hashmatullah Shahidi (40); 111-run 6th wkt with Mohammad Nabi (40 off 24)
Zadran + Shahidi, Zadran + Nabi
Turned 212/5 into 325/7; 113 runs in last 10 overs!
Nabi’s blitz: 111 runs in ~50 balls – fastest rescue!
Explosive Finish
Final 10 overs: 113 runs; aggressive acceleration
Zadran (late carnage)
Posted highest total vs England; set 326 target
20 runs off Archer over; followed by 16 off Overton – bowlers smashed!
England Chase Highlights
Strong start; Joe Root anchors with century
Joe Root 120 (111 balls, 11×4, 1×6)
Kept chase alive till end; needed 13 off last over
Valiant but fell short – pressure mounted!
Bowling Masterclass
Azmatullah Omarzai rips through middle & death overs
Azmatullah Omarzai 5/58 (all-round hero)
5-wicket haul dismantled England; Nabi 2/57
Omarzai: 41* with bat + 5 wickets – true match-winner!
Nail-Biting Finish
England 313/9 needing 13 off last over; collapse in final over
Fazalhaq Farooqi / others
8-run thriller; England all out on penultimate ball
Fans on edge till last delivery – pure drama!
Overall Impact
Afghanistan knocks England out; repeat upset after 2023 WC
Ibrahim Zadran (Player of the Match)
Cemented Afghanistan as white-ball force; Zadran wins ESPNcricinfo 2025 ODI Batting Award
Sachin Tendulkar praised: “Special moment” – Afghan fire forever!
The Humble Beginnings: Afghanistan Steps Onto the Big Stage Against England in the 2015 World Cup
The humble beginnings of the Afghanistan vs England rivalry unfolded at the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup in Sydney on March 13. Rain interrupted play, reducing Afghanistan’s innings to 36.2 overs where they struggled to 111/7. Shafiqullah top-scored with a gritty 30 off 64 balls, while Mohammad Nabi added 16. Chris Jordan starred with 2/13 for England, who chased a revised D/L target of 101 in just 18.1 overs, winning by 9 wickets. Ian Bell remained unbeaten on 52 off 56, and Alex Hales blasted 37 off 33.
Category
Details
Player/Stat Highlight
Result
England won by 9 wickets (D/L)
Comfortable chase despite rain
Afghanistan Total
111/7 (36.2 overs)
Lowest competitive total vs ENG
Top Afghanistan Batsman
Shafiqullah
30 runs (best resistance)
Best Afghanistan Bowler
Hamid Hassan
1/17 (early breakthrough)
England Chase
101/1 (18.1/25 overs)
Quick finish with 41 balls spare
Top England Batsman
Ian Bell (not out)
52* (composed half-century)
Best England Bowler
Chris Jordan
2/13 & Player of the Match
Highest Partnership
Bell & Taylor (unbeaten)
Steady stand to seal win
Key Moment
Rain revision & Hales’ aggressive start
Shifted momentum decisively
Short-Format Drama Unfolds: England’s Narrow Escape in the 2022 T20 World Cup Perth Thriller
The short-format drama unfolded in the 2022 T20 World Cup at Perth on October 22, where Afghanistan posted a modest 112 all out in 19.4 overs after opting to bat. Sam Curran delivered a masterclass with 5/10, dismantling the middle order, while Mark Wood and Ben Stokes chipped in with two wickets each. England chased 113 cautiously, finishing at 113/5 in 18.1 overs for a 5-wicket win with 11 balls to spare. Liam Livingstone’s unbeaten 29 steadied them amid spin pressure from Mujeeb and Rashid.
The Historic Turning Point: Afghanistan’s Stunning 69-Run Upset Over England in the 2023 World Cup
Delhi witnessed pure magic on October 15, 2023, as Afghanistan stunned defending champions England by 69 runs in the World Cup. Rahmanullah Gurbaz blazed 80 off 57 balls and Ikram Alikhil added 58 to reach 284. England’s chase fell apart at 215, dismantled by Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s 3 for 51 and Rashid Khan’s 3 for 37. The 114-run opening stand set the tone while Mujeeb claimed player of the match honors. This victory changed the rivalry forever, sparking wild celebrations in Afghanistan and proving underdogs can conquer giants.
Category
Afghanistan Highlights
England Highlights
Record / Interesting Fact
Highest Individual Score
Rahmanullah Gurbaz: 80 (57 balls, 8×4, 4×6), run out
Champions Trophy Heart-Stopper: Afghanistan Snatches an 8-Run Victory in Lahore 2025
Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium erupted on February 26, 2025, as Afghanistan clinched a thrilling 8-run win over England in the Champions Trophy Group B clash. Batting first, Afghanistan posted 325/7, powered by Ibrahim Zadran’s record-breaking 177 (146 balls, 12×4, 6×6). Azmatullah Omarzai added a quick 41 and then starred with the ball (5/58) to dismantle England’s chase of 326. Joe Root fought valiantly with 120 (111 balls), but wickets fell regularly, ending at 317 all out in 49.5 overs. This repeat upset eliminated England and kept Afghanistan’s hopes alive.
Category
Afghanistan Highlights
England Highlights
Record / Interesting Fact
Highest Individual Score
Ibrahim Zadran: 177 (146 balls, 12×4, 6×6)
Joe Root: 120 (111 balls)
Zadran’s 177 is the highest individual score in Champions Trophy history
Key Partnership
Zadran + others built from 37/3 to massive total
Root anchored but no big stands after early losses
Afghanistan scored 286 runs from overs 11-50 after early wickets – 2nd most in ODI history
Best Bowling Figures
Azmatullah Omarzai: 5/58 (all-round hero)
Jofra Archer: 3/64
Azmatullah’s 5-fer defended 325; ended Root’s stay in 46th over
Chase Target & Outcome
Set 326 to win
317 all out (49.5/50 overs)
Narrowest margin in this tournament; England eliminated
Player of the Match
Ibrahim Zadran (177 + fielding impact)
—
Zadran’s knock set up historic win; Afghanistan’s greatest ODI chase defense
Historic Milestone
Back-to-back major wins over England (2023 WC + 2025 CT)
England out after successive defeats
Afghanistan’s resilience inspires nation; Buttler under pressure as captain
Conclusion
Afghanistan’s journey against England showcases cricket’s beautiful unpredictability: underdogs rising, spinners outfoxing power-hitters, and heart-stopping finishes thrilling millions. Each upset—from Delhi 2023 to Lahore 2025—fuels dreams in Afghanistan while forcing England to rethink supremacy. This rivalry reminds us why we love the game: spirit triumphs over stature every time.
