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The cricket timeline between the Afghanistan National Cricket Team and the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team captures one of modern cricket’s fastest-growing Asian rivalries. Sri Lanka holds the traditional advantage, but Afghanistan has consistently closed the gap, turning multi-nation tournaments and bilateral tours into highly competitive, edge-of-the-seat battles.
Head-to-Head Statistical Summary
| Format | Matches Played | Sri Lanka Wins | Afghanistan Wins | No Result / Tie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test Matches | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| One Day Internationals (ODIs) | 15 | 10 | 4 | 1 |
| T20 Internationals (T20Is) | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
Chronological World Cup & Asia Cup Timeline (2014 – 2025)
The foundation of this rivalry was built entirely through high-stakes multi-nation tournaments.
- March 2014 (First Meeting – Asia Cup): Sri Lanka won their maiden encounter in Dhaka by 129 runs, powered by a classic Kumar Sangakkara century.
- February 2015 (ODI World Cup Debut): Afghanistan gave Sri Lanka a massive scare in Dunedin. Defending a modest 232, Afghanistan reduced Sri Lanka to 51/4 before Mahela Jayawardene rescued the islanders for a tight 4-wicket win.
- March 2016 (T20 World Cup Debut): Sri Lanka chased down 153 at Eden Gardens to secure a comfortable 6-wicket victory.
- September 2018 (First Afghan Victory): Afghanistan recorded a historic 91-run triumph over Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi during the Asia Cup, bundling them out for 158.
- June 2019 (ODI World Cup – Cardiff): In a rain-curtailed fixture, Sri Lanka edged Afghanistan by 34 runs behind Nuwan Pradeep’s four-wicket haul.
- August – September 2022 (Asia Cup Multi-Clash):
- Group Stage: Afghanistan dominated Sri Lanka, winning by 8 wickets with 59 balls to spare.
- Super 4s: Sri Lanka took sweet revenge by chasing down 175 to win by 4 wickets, going on to lift the Asia Cup trophy.
- October 2023 (ODI World Cup – Pune): Afghanistan completely outplayed Sri Lanka, bowling them out for 241 before clinically chasing down the target with 7 wickets in hand, led by Azmatullah Omarzai and Shahidi.
- September 2025 (Asia Cup – Abu Dhabi): Sri Lanka pulled off a 6-wicket victory after successfully chasing Afghanistan’s total of 169/8. Kusal Mendis spearheaded the chase with an aggressive 74.
Recent Bilateral Timeline (2024 – 2026)
Bilateral cricket between the two sides has significantly ramped up over the last two years.
Afghanistan Tour of Sri Lanka (February 2024)
Sri Lanka swept this home series across formats, despite highly explosive resistance from Afghanistan.
- Only Test (Colombo): Sri Lanka won comfortably by 10 wickets after scoring 439 in their first innings.
- ODI Series (Pallekele): Sri Lanka won the series 3-0. The opening game was highlighted by Pathum Nissanka’s historic 210*, making him the first Sri Lankan to score an ODI double-century.
- T20I Series (Dambulla): Sri Lanka won the series 2-1. Afghanistan salvaged pride in the final T20I by pinching a narrow 3-run victory.
Postponed Bilateral Series (March 2026)
Afghanistan was scheduled to host Sri Lanka for their first-ever designated “home” bilateral series in the UAE.
- The Original Schedule: 3 T20Is in Sharjah and 3 ODIs in Dubai from 13 March to 25 March 2026.
- Current Status: The entire tour was officially postponed to the final quarter of 2026 by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) due to regional logistical and travel constraints stemming from the geopolitical crisis in West Asia
Highest and Lowest Team Totals
Test Matches
- Highest Sri Lanka Total: 439 all out at Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo (2024).
- Highest Afghanistan Total: 296 all out at Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo (2024).
- Lowest Sri Lanka Total: Sri Lanka has never batted in a completed low-scoring innings against Afghanistan, with 439 being their only innings total in their single Test match encounter.
- Lowest Afghanistan Total: 198 all out at Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo (2024).
One Day Internationals (ODIs)
- Highest Sri Lanka Total: 381/3 at Pallekele Cricket Stadium (2024). Pathum Nissanka hit a historic 210* in this fixture.
- Highest Afghanistan Total: 339/6 at Pallekele Cricket Stadium (2024) during a massive, unsuccessful run-chase.
- Lowest Sri Lanka Total: 158 all out at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi (2018) during the Asia Cup.
- Lowest Afghanistan Total: 116 all out at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Hambantota (2023)
T20 Internationals (T20Is)
- Highest Sri Lanka Total: 187/6 at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium (2024).
- Highest Afghanistan Total: 209/5 at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium (2024).
- Lowest Sri Lanka Total: 105 all out at Dubai International Cricket Stadium (2022).
- Lowest Afghanistan Total: 115 all out at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium (2024).
All-Time Leading Run-Scorers
One Day Internationals (ODIs)
- Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka): Leads the overall aggregate chart with over 550 runs against Afghanistan, including his record-shattering double-century.
- Ibrahim Zadran (Afghanistan): The top run-getter for Afghanistan in this rivalry, amassing over 480 runs, bolstered by multiple centuries in Pallekele and Hambantota.
- Rahmat Shah (Afghanistan): A pillar of consistency in the middle order, anchoring the team with close to 400 runs in head-to-head fixtures.
T20 Internationals (T20Is)
- Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka): Anchors the T20 matches with over 230 runs, turning up with clutch performances in both bilateral series and the Asia Cup.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan): Known for his aggressive opening displays, he has smashed more than 210 runs against the Sri Lankan bowling unit.
- Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka): Performs as a premier all-rounder, clearing boundaries late in the innings to accumulate key runs alongside his extensive bowling milestones.
Developmental Team Records (Under-19 & ‘A’ Teams)
The developmental pipeline highlights the growing strength of youth systems in both nations.
- Under-19 Youth ODIs: Sri Lanka U-19 traditionally holds the historical edge, but the Afghanistan Under-19 team has pulled off famous wins in recent ICC U-19 World Cup knockout stages. Most notably, Afghanistan defeated Sri Lanka by 4 runs in a thrilling 2022 World Cup Quarter-Final in Antigua.
- ‘A’ Team Campaigns: The Afghanistan ‘A’ (Afghan Abdalyan) and Sri Lanka ‘A’ teams regularly clash in the ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup, where games remain highly competitive and act as a direct trial ground for spin-bowling depth.