A cricket match between Pakistan and Afghanistan rarely feels like just another game. The Pakistan national cricket team vs Afghanistan national cricket team matches have produced tense finishes, dramatic chases, outstanding bowling spells and some unforgettable moments in recent international cricket.
The two sides have met far more often in white-ball cricket than in Tests, with their encounters becoming increasingly competitive as Afghanistan developed into a major international team. From Pakistan’s early dominance to Afghanistan’s breakthrough ODI victory in 2023 and their growing success in T20 cricket, Afghanistan vs Pakistan has developed into an intriguing modern cricket contest.
This guide covers the important Pakistan national cricket team vs Afghanistan national cricket team matches, their major tournament encounters, recent results, head-to-head trends and what makes Pak vs Afg such a compelling fixture.
Pakistan vs Afghanistan Cricket: A Quick Overview
Pakistan and Afghanistan first met in an official men’s ODI in February 2012, in Sharjah. Pakistan won that match by seven wickets, beginning a period in which they maintained a strong advantage in ODI cricket.
For several years, Afghanistan came close without quite getting over the line. That changed at the 2023 Cricket World Cup, when Afghanistan defeated Pakistan by eight wickets in Chennai for their first ODI victory over Pakistan. The win ended a seven-match losing streak in ODIs against their neighbors.
The T20I rivalry has been much closer.
Key points
- First official ODI: 2012
- First T20I: 2013
- First major World Cup meeting: 2019
- Afghanistan’s first ODI win over Pakistan: 2023
- Pakistan’s 2023 ODI series win: 3–0
- Pakistan’s 2025 T20I tri-series final win: 75 runs
- Formats: ODI and T20I
Unlike traditional cricket rivalries that developed over several decades, the Pakistan–Afghanistan contest is relatively young. Its intensity has grown alongside Afghanistan’s rapid rise in international cricket.
Pakistan National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Matches: How It Started
The first official ODI between the two countries took place at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on 10 February 2012.
Pakistan won by seven wickets, with the experienced Pakistan side controlling the match. It was an important occasion for Afghanistan, which was still establishing itself against full-member international teams.
The match also marked the beginning of what would become a regular white-ball fixture.
Pakistan’s players had considerably more international experience at the time, while Afghanistan was building a side around emerging talents who would later become household names.
Early Pakistan vs Afghanistan Meetings
During the early years, Pakistan generally had the upper hand.
Afghanistan’s improvement was nevertheless obvious. The team had already developed a reputation for producing talented spin bowlers, aggressive batters and players comfortable in T20 cricket.
The countries also played a series of matches outside the senior international record, including Pakistan A fixtures during Afghanistan’s 2012–13 tour of Pakistan. Those matches helped provide Afghanistan with valuable exposure to Pakistani conditions and players.
But the official international meetings were where the rivalry began to take shape.
2018 Asia Cup: Another Close Pakistan vs Afghanistan Match
Pakistan and Afghanistan met in the 2018 Asia Cup Super Four stage in Abu Dhabi.
Afghanistan posted 257/6 after Rahmat Shah made 36 and Asghar Afghan scored 67. Pakistan appeared to be in serious trouble during the chase, but Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam helped stabilize the innings.
Pakistan eventually won by three wickets with three balls remaining.
The narrow margin was significant because it demonstrated how close Afghanistan had become to defeating Pakistan in ODI cricket.
2019 Cricket World Cup: Pakistan Survive a Thriller
The 2019 World Cup meeting remains one of the most memorable Pakistan national cricket team vs Afghanistan national cricket team matches.
The match was played at Headingley on 29 June 2019. Afghanistan scored 227/9, putting Pakistan under considerable pressure.
Pakistan’s chase became increasingly difficult as wickets fell. Imad Wasim eventually became the unlikely hero, while Wahab Riaz produced a crucial late contribution.
Pakistan needed six runs from the final over and eventually completed the chase with two balls remaining. Imad hit the winning boundary, giving Pakistan a three-wicket victory.
Why the 2019 match is remembered
The game had almost everything:
- Afghanistan’s spinners creating pressure
- Pakistan’s middle order struggling
- A tense final few overs
- Wahab Riaz batting with a finger injury
- Imad Wasim finishing the chase
- A passionate Headingley crowd
It was another match where Afghanistan looked capable of winning against a more established opponent but fell just short.
2021 T20 World Cup: Pakistan Continue Their Winning Run
The teams met again at the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Dubai.
The fixture was scheduled for 29 October, with both sides competing in Group 2 of the Super 12 stage.
Pakistan entered the tournament in excellent form, while Afghanistan had a dangerous bowling attack featuring Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi.
Pakistan eventually won the match by five wickets.
The game reinforced a pattern that had become familiar: Afghanistan could make Pakistan work extremely hard, but Pakistan continued to find ways to close out the contest.
2023: The Rivalry Changes Forever
If there is one year that changed the story of Afghanistan vs Pakistan, it is 2023.
Pakistan toured Sri Lanka for a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan in August. Rather than simply competing, Pakistan produced a dominant performance and completed a 3–0 series sweep.
The first ODI was particularly one-sided, with Pakistan winning by 142 runs.
The second match was much closer. Pakistan won by just one wicket, surviving a dramatic finish.
Pakistan then won the third ODI by 59 runs.
The sweep helped Pakistan move to No. 1 in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings at the time.
Pakistan’s 2023 ODI series results
| Match | Result |
| 1st ODI | Pakistan won by 142 runs |
| 2nd ODI | Pakistan won by 1 wicket |
| 3rd ODI | Pakistan won by 59 runs |
| Series | Pakistan won 3–0 |
It looked like another clear advantage for Pakistan.
Then came the World Cup.
2023 World Cup: Afghanistan Finally Beat Pakistan
The 2023 Cricket World Cup produced arguably the biggest result in the history of Pakistan national cricket team vs Afghanistan national cricket team matches.
Afghanistan faced Pakistan in Chennai on 23 October.
Pakistan scored 282/7, but Afghanistan’s opening pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran put together an excellent partnership during the chase.
Afghanistan reached the target with eight wickets in hand, winning with 6.5 overs remaining.
It was Afghanistan’s first ODI victory over Pakistan and ended their seven-match losing streak in the format.
Afghanistan’s historic World Cup win
Pakistan: 282/7
Afghanistan: 286/2
Result: Afghanistan won by 8 wickets
The result was more than just another World Cup upset. It represented a major step in Afghanistan’s development as an international cricket team.
For Pakistan, it was a painful defeat. For Afghanistan, it was confirmation that they could beat established teams on the biggest stage.
Pakistan vs Afghanistan T20I Rivalry
The T20I side of the rivalry has developed particularly quickly.
Pakistan and Afghanistan have played a series of important T20I matches, including encounters at global tournaments and bilateral/tri-series events.
Their 2023 three-match T20I series in Sharjah was particularly competitive.
2023 T20I series
Afghanistan won the first two matches:
- 1st T20I: Afghanistan won by 6 wickets
- 2nd T20I: Afghanistan won by 7 wickets
- 3rd T20I: Pakistan won by 66 runs
Afghanistan therefore took the series 2–1.
The result was significant because it was one of the first occasions when Afghanistan defeated Pakistan in a T20I series.
2024: Afghanistan Keep Building
Afghanistan entered 2024 with considerable confidence after reaching the semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup, their first-ever appearance in the final four of an ICC men’s senior tournament.
Although Pakistan and Afghanistan did not meet in that T20 World Cup, their growing strength meant another major meeting was always likely.
Afghanistan’s rise also changed the nature of their matches with Pakistan. The question was no longer whether Afghanistan could compete.
It was whether Afghanistan could consistently beat Pakistan.
2025: Pakistan vs Afghanistan T20I Tri-Series
One of the most recent chapters came in August and September 2025, when Pakistan, Afghanistan and the UAE played a T20I tri-series in Sharjah.
Each team played the others twice before the top two advanced to the final. The tournament was designed partly as preparation for the 2025 Asia Cup.
Pakistan and Afghanistan met three times during the tournament.
29 August 2025: Pakistan win by 39 runs
Pakistan won the opening encounter by 39 runs.
Salman Ali Agha played an important innings for Pakistan, while the team successfully defended its total.
2 September 2025: Afghanistan hit back
Afghanistan responded brilliantly in the second meeting.
Ibrahim Zadran scored 65 from 45 balls, while Sediqullah Atal made 64 from 45 balls. Their partnership helped Afghanistan reach 169/5.
Pakistan could only manage 151/9, giving Afghanistan an 18-run victory.
The result made the final even more interesting.
7 September 2025: Pakistan win the final
Pakistan and Afghanistan met again in the tri-series final.
Pakistan scored 141/8, with Fakhar Zaman making 27, Mohammad Nawaz contributing 25 and Salman Ali Agha scoring 24.
Afghanistan’s chase then collapsed spectacularly.
Mohammad Nawaz produced career-best T20I figures of 5/19, including a hat-trick, as Afghanistan were bowled out for just 66.
Pakistan won by 75 runs and lifted the tri-series trophy.
2025 T20I meetings at a glance
| Date | Result |
| 29 Aug 2025 | Pakistan won by 39 runs |
| 2 Sep 2025 | Afghanistan won by 18 runs |
| 7 Sep 2025 | Pakistan won by 75 runs |
The three matches showed exactly why Pak vs Afg has become so entertaining: one team can dominate one game, lose the next and then produce a completely different performance in the final.
Pakistan vs Afghanistan Head-to-Head: What the Numbers Show
The overall record depends heavily on the format.
In ODIs, Pakistan dominated the rivalry for many years. Before Afghanistan’s World Cup win in 2023, Pakistan had won every previous ODI between the teams. The 2023 World Cup victory finally put Afghanistan on the board.
T20 cricket has been much more competitive, with Afghanistan producing several important wins.
That difference is worth remembering when looking at the Afghanistan national cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team rivalry.
ODI cricket
Pakistan’s historical advantage has been substantial, although Afghanistan’s 2023 World Cup victory changed the narrative.
T20 cricket
The shorter format has generally provided Afghanistan with more opportunities to exploit their strengths:
- Rashid Khan’s leg-spin
- Mujeeb ur Rahman’s powerplay bowling
- Mohammad Nabi’s experience
- Aggressive opening batsmen
- Strong performances in UAE conditions
Pakistan, meanwhile, can counter with fast bowling, explosive batting and considerable experience in pressure situations.
Why Afghanistan vs Pakistan Matches Are So Competitive
There are several cricketing reasons these games tend to produce tension.
1. Afghanistan’s spin attack
Afghanistan has produced some of the world’s most dangerous T20 spinners.
Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb ur Rahman and other spin options can make batting extremely difficult, particularly on slower surfaces.
2. Pakistan’s fast bowling tradition
Pakistan has traditionally relied heavily on fast bowlers.
Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf have given Pakistan the ability to attack Afghanistan’s top order with pace.
3. Familiar conditions
Both teams frequently play in the UAE and other Asian conditions.
That familiarity reduces the home-advantage factor and makes tactical execution even more important.
4. Strong batting at the top
Afghanistan’s opening batsmen have become increasingly reliable, while Pakistan has historically possessed technically strong top-order players.
When the opening partnership succeeds, either team can quickly take control.
The Players Who Have Shaped Pakistan vs Afghanistan Matches
Several players have become closely associated with the rivalry.
Pakistan
Babar Azam has been one of Pakistan’s most important ODI batters during the modern era.
Shaheen Shah Afridi brings left-arm pace and early breakthroughs.
Mohammad Rizwan has provided stability and consistency in white-ball cricket.
Wahab Riaz remains particularly memorable for his performances in the tense 2019 World Cup meeting.
Afghanistan
Rashid Khan is arguably the most recognizable Afghan player in the rivalry.
Mohammad Nabi has provided Afghanistan with years of experience and all-round ability.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz has become an important attacking opener.
Ibrahim Zadran has also produced important innings, including his 65 in the 2025 T20I meeting.
Where to Watch Pakistan National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team
If you’re searching for where to watch Pakistan national cricket team vs Afghanistan national cricket team, the answer depends on the tournament, country and broadcaster.
For major ICC events, coverage is normally distributed through the tournament’s official broadcast partners. For bilateral or tri-series matches, rights can vary considerably between Pakistan, Afghanistan, the UAE and international markets.
The safest options are:
- Check the ICC official match centre for ICC tournament fixtures.
- Check the Pakistan Cricket Board for Pakistan-hosted or Pakistan-involved series information.
- Check the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s official channels for Afghanistan fixtures.
- Check your local sports broadcaster or streaming service shortly before the match.
- For live scores, use an established cricket score service if video coverage is unavailable in your region.
Because broadcast rights can change from one tournament to another, it is better to verify the broadcaster for the specific match rather than relying on an old television listing.
Pakistan vs Afghanistan: Most Memorable Matches
If you’re new to the rivalry, these are the matches worth revisiting:
2018 Asia Cup
Pakistan won a tense contest by three wickets.
2019 World Cup
Pakistan survived a dramatic chase at Headingley, winning by three wickets.
2021 T20 World Cup
Pakistan defeated Afghanistan in Dubai during the Super 12 stage.
2023 ODI Series
Pakistan swept Afghanistan 3–0, including a one-wicket thriller in the second ODI.
2023 World Cup
Afghanistan recorded their first ODI victory over Pakistan, winning by eight wickets.
2025 T20I Tri-Series Final
Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by 75 runs after Mohammad Nawaz took five wickets.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Pakistan and Afghanistan first play an official international match?
Pakistan and Afghanistan first played an official men’s ODI on 10 February 2012 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Pakistan won by seven wickets.
Who has won more Pakistan vs Afghanistan ODI matches?
Pakistan has historically won considerably more ODIs between the teams. Afghanistan’s first ODI victory over Pakistan came at the 2023 Cricket World Cup, when they won by eight wickets.
When did Afghanistan first beat Pakistan in ODI cricket?
Afghanistan defeated Pakistan for the first time in ODI cricket at the 2023 Cricket World Cup in Chennai. They won by eight wickets after chasing 283.
Who won the 2023 Pakistan vs Afghanistan ODI series?
Pakistan won the three-match series 3–0. They won the first ODI by 142 runs, the second by one wicket and the third by 59 runs.
Who won the 2023 Afghanistan vs Pakistan T20I series?
Afghanistan won the three-match T20I series 2–1. Afghanistan won the first two matches before Pakistan won the third by 66 runs.
What was the closest Pakistan vs Afghanistan World Cup match?
The 2019 Cricket World Cup encounter was particularly close. Pakistan chased Afghanistan’s 227/9 and won by three wickets with two balls remaining.
Who won the Pakistan vs Afghanistan T20I final in 2025?
Pakistan won the 2025 tri-series final by 75 runs in Sharjah. Mohammad Nawaz took 5/19, including a hat-trick, as Afghanistan were bowled out for 66.
Where can I watch Pakistan vs Afghanistan cricket matches?
For an individual match, check the official ICC, PCB or Afghanistan Cricket Board information and your local sports broadcaster. Broadcast rights differ by tournament and country, so there is no single channel that carries every Pakistan national cricket team vs Afghanistan national cricket team match.
Is Pakistan vs Afghanistan a cricket rivalry?
It is a relatively young rivalry compared with contests such as Pakistan–India or Australia–England, but it has become one of the more closely watched matchups in Asian cricket. Afghanistan’s rapid rise has made every Afghanistan vs Pakistan meeting increasingly competitive.
Conclusion: Why Pak vs Afg Is Worth Watching
The story of Pakistan national cricket team vs Afghanistan national cricket team matches is really a story of Afghanistan’s rise.
Pakistan dominated the early years, winning repeatedly in ODI cricket and surviving several close encounters. Afghanistan kept improving, however, until the breakthrough finally arrived at the 2023 World Cup, when they defeated Pakistan by eight wickets and recorded their first ODI victory over them.
Since then, the rivalry has become harder to predict. Pakistan answered with strong performances, including the 2025 T20I tri-series final, while Afghanistan continued to demonstrate that they can challenge established teams in every format.
That is what makes Afghanistan vs Pakistan and Pak vs Afg so appealing. There is history, attacking cricket, world-class spin, express pace and, increasingly, no guarantee about which team will have the final say.
If you want to understand this modern Asian cricket contest, start with the matches that changed its direction: 2019, 2023 and 2025. Together, they tell the story of a young rivalry that has quickly become one of the most intriguing fixtures in international white-ball cricket.