Afghanistan have played 18 matches across five Asia Cup editions (2014, 2018, 2022, 2023, and 2025), winning 6, losing 11, and tying 1.
Consequently, their best finish remains fourth place, achieved three times in 2014, 2018, and 2022. Although they have never reached an Asia Cup final, Afghanistan have produced some unforgettable moments.
For instance, Mohammad Shahzad’s stunning 124 against India and Rashid Khan finishing as the 2018 tournament’s leading wicket-taker stand out. Here is a full breakdown of every record, result, and milestone from Afghanistan’s Asia Cup journey.
Afghanistan Asia Cup Overall Record at a Glance
Before exploring edition-by-edition details, here is a quick snapshot of Afghanistan’s overall numbers in the Asia Cup.
| Stat | Record |
|---|---|
| Total Editions Played | 5 (2014, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2025) |
| Total Matches | 18 |
| Wins | 6 |
| Losses | 11 |
| Tied | 1 |
| Best Finish | 4th (2014, 2018, 2022) |
| Formats Played | ODI (2014, 2018, 2023), T20I (2022, 2025) |
| First Asia Cup Match | vs Pakistan, 25 Feb 2014 |
| Highest Team Score (ODI) | 289 vs Sri Lanka, 2023 |
| Highest Team Score (T20I) | 188/6 vs Hong Kong, 2025 |
| Lowest Team Score (T20I) | 111 vs India, 2022 |
Afghanistan Asia Cup Results: Edition-by-Edition Breakdown
Similarly, each Asia Cup edition has added a new chapter to Afghanistan’s story. Below is a chronological breakdown of every match they have played.
Asia Cup 2014 (ODI): The Debut Edition
Afghanistan qualified for the 2014 Asia Cup through the qualifying tournament, thus marking their first-ever appearance in the competition. Furthermore, the tournament took place in Bangladesh with five participating teams.
Above all, the highlight of their debut campaign came with a historic 32-run victory over hosts Bangladesh. As a result, this became Afghanistan’s first ODI win against a Test-playing nation.
Specifically, Samiullah Shenwari’s 81 and Asghar Stanikzai’s unbeaten 90 rescued the innings from 90/5 with a 164-run partnership. Meanwhile, India and Sri Lanka proved too strong for the debutants.
| Date (2014) | Opponent | Venue | Result | Match Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Feb | vs Pakistan | Mirpur | Lost | Pakistan won by 72 runs |
| 03 Mar | vs Sri Lanka | Mirpur | Lost | Sri Lanka won by 129 runs |
| 05 Mar | vs Bangladesh | Mirpur | Won | Afghanistan won by 32 runs |
| 05 Mar | vs India | Mirpur | Lost | India won by 8 wickets |
Overall: Played 4, Won 1, Lost 3. Finished 4th
Asia Cup 2018 (ODI): Afghanistan’s Best Campaign
After gaining ICC Full Membership in 2017, Afghanistan automatically qualified for the 2018 Asia Cup in the UAE. Consequently, this edition became arguably their most impressive.
First, they topped Group B with crushing wins over Sri Lanka (by 91 runs) and Bangladesh (by 136 runs). Then, in the Super Four, they pushed Pakistan to the final over, narrowly lost to Bangladesh by 3 runs, and famously tied against India at 252 apiece.
Although they finished fourth again, this edition established Afghanistan as genuine contenders rather than mere participants. In particular, their batting depth and spin bowling earned widespread respect.
| Date (Sep 2018) | Opponent | Stage | Result | Match Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Sep | vs Sri Lanka | Group B | Won | Afghanistan won by 91 runs |
| 20 Sep | vs Bangladesh | Group B | Won | Afghanistan won by 136 runs |
| 21 Sep | vs Pakistan | Super Four | Lost | Pakistan won by 3 wickets |
| 23 Sep | vs Bangladesh | Super Four | Lost | Bangladesh won by 3 runs |
| 25 Sep | vs India | Super Four | Tied | Match tied (AFG 252/8, IND 252) |
Overall: Played 5, Won 2, Lost 2, Tied 1. Finished 4th.
Asia Cup 2022 (T20I): Group Stage Dominance, Super Four Disappointment
Besides their ODI prowess, the 2022 edition marked Afghanistan’s first T20I Asia Cup experience. As a result, they dominated the group stage, thrashing Sri Lanka by 8 wickets and Bangladesh by 7 wickets.
However, the Super Four brought a different story altogether. Three consecutive losses ended their campaign, including a 101-run defeat to India where Virat Kohli scored his maiden T20I century (122*).
| Date (2022) | Opponent | Stage | Result | Match Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Aug | vs Sri Lanka | Group B | Won | Afghanistan won by 8 wickets |
| 30 Aug | vs Bangladesh | Group B | Won | Afghanistan won by 7 wickets |
| 03 Sep | vs Sri Lanka | Super Four | Lost | Sri Lanka won by 4 wickets |
| 07 Sep | vs Pakistan | Super Four | Lost | Pakistan won by 1 wicket |
| 08 Sep | vs India | Super Four | Lost | India won by 101 runs |
Overall: Played 5, Won 2, Lost 3. Finished 4th.
Asia Cup 2023 (ODI): Heartbreak in Lahore
Unfortunately, the 2023 Asia Cup brought two agonizing results for Afghanistan. First, Bangladesh dismantled them by 89 runs after posting a massive 334/5.
Subsequently, against Sri Lanka, Afghanistan nearly pulled off a stunning win. While chasing 292 (needing to reach the target in 37.1 overs to qualify via NRR), they came within 2 runs before Mujeeb holed out in the 38th over.
Therefore, Afghanistan found themselves eliminated at the group stage for the first time.
| Date (Sep 2023) | Opponent | Stage | Result | Match Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03 Sep | vs Bangladesh | Group B | Lost | Bangladesh won by 89 runs |
| 05 Sep | vs Sri Lanka | Group B | Lost | Sri Lanka won by 2 runs |
Overall: Played 2, Won 0, Lost 2. Eliminated in group stage.
Asia Cup 2025 (T20I): Close but Not Enough
Similarly, in the 2025 T20I edition held in the UAE, Afghanistan opened with a massive 94-run win over Hong Kong. Notably, Sediqullah Atal smashed 73, while Azmatullah Omarzai hit the fastest T20I fifty by any Afghanistan player off just 20 balls.
Nevertheless, back-to-back losses to Bangladesh (by 8 runs) and Sri Lanka (by 6 wickets) knocked them out at the group stage. Even though Mohammad Nabi’s five sixes in the final over against Sri Lanka brought some late fireworks, they fell short once again.
| Date (Sep 2025) | Opponent | Stage | Result | Match Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09 Sep | vs Hong Kong | Group B | Won | Afghanistan won by 94 runs |
| 16 Sep | vs Bangladesh | Group B | Lost | Bangladesh won by 8 runs |
| 18 Sep | vs Sri Lanka | Group B | Lost | Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets |
Overall: Played 3, Won 1, Lost 2. Eliminated in group stage.
Afghanistan Head-to-Head Record in Asia Cup
Furthermore, Afghanistan’s results against each opponent reveal clear patterns. Below is a complete breakdown by opponent.
| Opponent | Played | Won | Lost | Tied | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0% |
| Pakistan | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Sri Lanka | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 33.3% |
| Bangladesh | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 60% |
| Hong Kong | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Total | 18 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 33.3% |
Accordingly, Bangladesh remains the only team Afghanistan hold a winning record against in the Asia Cup. Against India and Pakistan, they are yet to register a single win, though the 2018 tied match against India is one of the most talked-about moments in the tournament’s history.
Afghanistan Batting Records in Asia Cup
Mohammad Shahzad holds Afghanistan’s highest individual score in the Asia Cup with his breathtaking 124 off 116 balls against India in the 2018 Super Four. Specifically, that knock included 11 fours and 7 sixes.
Moreover, the innings earned him the Player of the Match award in a game that ended in a tie. Consequently, Shahzad also set the record for the highest individual score by a wicketkeeper in Asia Cup history.
Top Individual Scores by Afghanistan Batters in Asia Cup
| Batter | Score | Opponent | Edition | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammad Shahzad | 124 (116) | vs India | 2018 ODI | Tied |
| Hashmatullah Shahidi | 97* (118) | vs Pakistan | 2018 ODI | Lost |
| Samiullah Shenwari | 81 (72) | vs Bangladesh | 2014 ODI | Won |
| Asghar Stanikzai | 90* (82) | vs Bangladesh | 2014 ODI | Won |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | 84 (45) | vs Sri Lanka | 2022 T20I | Lost |
| Sediqullah Atal | 73 (42) | vs Hong Kong | 2025 T20I | Won |
| Rahmat Shah | 72 (90) | vs Sri Lanka | 2018 ODI | Won |
| Mohammad Nabi | 64 (56) | vs India | 2018 ODI | Tied |
| Hashmatullah Shahidi | 58 (93) | vs Bangladesh | 2018 ODI | Won |
| Rashid Khan | 57* (32) | vs Bangladesh | 2018 ODI | Won |
Highest Run-Scorers for Afghanistan in a Single Asia Cup Edition
In particular, the 2018 edition saw multiple Afghan batters step up. Mohammad Shahzad topped the charts with 268 runs in 5 innings at an average of 53.60.
Equally impressive, Hashmatullah Shahidi accumulated 263 runs in 5 matches at an average of 65.75 with three half-centuries. Together, they carried Afghanistan’s batting through a tournament where the team consistently posted 240+ totals.
Afghanistan Bowling Records in Asia Cup
Rashid Khan has consistently anchored Afghanistan’s bowling in the Asia Cup. In the 2018 edition alone, he picked up 10 wickets in 5 matches at an economy of 3.72, thereby finishing as the leading wicket-taker of the entire tournament.
Beyond wickets, Rashid also contributed 87 runs with the bat in that edition, including a quickfire 57* against Bangladesh. Hence, his all-round impact made him virtually irreplaceable in Afghanistan’s lineup.
Notable Bowling Performances by Afghanistan in Asia Cup
| Bowler | Figures | Opponent | Edition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulbadin Naib | 4/36 (10) | vs Sri Lanka | 2023 ODI |
| Rashid Khan | 3/46 (10) | vs Pakistan | 2018 ODI |
| Rashid Khan | 3/41 (9.5) | vs India | 2018 ODI |
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | 3/11 (4) | vs Sri Lanka | 2022 T20I |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | 3/16 (4) | vs Bangladesh | 2022 T20I |
| Rashid Khan | 3/22 (4) | vs Bangladesh | 2022 T20I |
| Mohammad Nabi | 2/14 (3) | vs Sri Lanka | 2022 T20I |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | 2/33 (10) | vs Pakistan | 2018 ODI |
Additionally, Fazalhaq Farooqi’s 3/11 against Sri Lanka in the 2022 T20I edition deserves special mention. He ripped through the Sri Lankan top order, helping bowl them out for just 105 in the opening match.
Afghanistan Key Team Records in Asia Cup
Besides individual performances, Afghanistan have also set some notable team benchmarks in the tournament.
| Record | Details |
|---|---|
| Largest ODI Win (by runs) | 136 runs vs Bangladesh, Asia Cup 2018 |
| Largest T20I Win (by runs) | 94 runs vs Hong Kong, Asia Cup 2025 |
| Largest T20I Win (by wickets) | 8 wickets vs Sri Lanka, Asia Cup 2022 |
| Fastest T20I Chase | 106/2 in 10.1 overs vs Sri Lanka, 2022 |
| Highest ODI Total | 289 vs Sri Lanka, Asia Cup 2023 |
| Lowest ODI Total | 119 vs Bangladesh, Asia Cup 2018 |
| Highest T20I Total | 188/6 vs Hong Kong, Asia Cup 2025 |
| Lowest T20I Total | 111 vs India, Asia Cup 2022 |
| Only Tied Match | 252/8 vs India (252), Asia Cup 2018 |
Top 5 Most Memorable Afghanistan Moments in Asia Cup
While numbers tell one story, some moments deserve their own spotlight. Here are five performances that define Afghanistan’s identity in the Asia Cup.
1. The Tied Match Against India (Asia Cup 2018)
First on the list, and for good reason. Mohammad Shahzad smashed 124 off 116 balls to set up Afghanistan’s 252/8.
Subsequently, India, chasing with a second-string lineup led by MS Dhoni, looked comfortable at 200/4. However, Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi triggered a collapse.
With 1 run needed off 2 balls, Ravindra Jadeja pulled Rashid straight to Najibullah Zadran at midwicket. Consequently, the Afghans celebrated like they had won a final, and honestly, who could blame them?
2. Beating Bangladesh by 32 Runs (Asia Cup 2014)
Next, Afghanistan’s first-ever ODI win against a Test-playing nation. Although reeling at 90/5, Samiullah Shenwari (81) and Asghar Stanikzai (90*) rescued the innings with a 164-run partnership.
Then, Mohammad Nabi wrapped up the Bangladesh innings to seal a historic 32-run triumph on their home ground. As a result, Afghan cricket took a giant leap forward on the global stage.
3. Crushing Sri Lanka by 91 Runs (Asia Cup 2018)
Furthermore, Rahmat Shah’s 72 anchored Afghanistan’s 249 before the spin trio of Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Rashid Khan, and Mohammad Nabi tore through Sri Lanka’s batting. Accordingly, Sri Lanka crumbled for just 158, and Afghanistan effectively knocked them out of the tournament.
4. Demolishing Bangladesh by 136 Runs (Asia Cup 2018)
In addition, Rashid Khan produced an all-round masterclass, scoring 57* off just 32 balls before picking up 2 wickets. Meanwhile, Bangladesh collapsed for just 119 in reply to Afghanistan’s 255/7.
Therefore, a 136-run margin still remains Afghanistan’s biggest win in any Asia Cup match.
5. Thrashing Sri Lanka by 8 Wickets in 10.1 Overs (Asia Cup 2022)
Fazalhaq Farooqi (3/11) led a devastating bowling effort that restricted Sri Lanka to just 105. Then, openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (40 off 18) and Hazratullah Zazai (37 off 28) chased it down in just 10.1 overs.
For context, that is a combined match duration shorter than most afternoon tea sessions. Hence, it stands as Afghanistan’s quickest chase in Asia Cup history.
Afghanistan’s Asia Cup Star Performers
Across all editions, a few players have consistently turned up for Afghanistan. Below is a summary of the standout contributors.
| Player | Role | Asia Cup Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Mohammad Shahzad | Batter/WK | 268 runs (2018), Asia Cup century (124 vs IND), highest wicketkeeper score in tournament history |
| Hashmatullah Shahidi | Batter | 263 runs (2018), avg 65.75, three consecutive fifties in Super Four |
| Rashid Khan | All-rounder | 10 wickets + 87 runs (2018), tournament’s leading wicket-taker, econ 3.72 |
| Mohammad Nabi | All-rounder | Consistent with bat and ball across editions, 64 vs IND (2018), 5 sixes in final over vs SL (2025) |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Batter/WK | 84 vs SL (2022), explosive opener in T20I editions |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | Bowler | 3/16 vs BAN (2022), key in group stage domination across editions |
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | Bowler | 3/11 vs SL (2022), helped bowl SL out for 105 in tournament opener |
Explore More:
- Pakistan Asia Cup Records, Stats & Performance (All-Time)
- India vs Pakistan Head to Head in Asia Cup Records (2026 Stats)
What Lies Ahead for Afghanistan in Asia Cup
Afghanistan have yet to reach an Asia Cup final, but their trajectory tells a compelling story. Since qualifying through a play-off in 2014 to tying against India in 2018, they have consistently shown they belong at Asia’s top table.
With Rashid Khan still performing at the highest level and young stars like Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran maturing fast, the next Asia Cup could finally bring that long-awaited breakthrough. Until then, their records stand as proof that they are no longer just making up the numbers.
