Afghanistan's path in global cricket is nothing but inspirational. From playing in refugee camps to registering historic wins against some of the largest teams in world cricket, Afghanistan has become a rising force. Their recent performances in big ICC events, such as victoriessover England, Pakistan, and Australia, indicate their quick growth on the global platform.

A Breakthrough Moment: Defeating West Indies in the 2016 T20 World Cup

Afghanistan was in the news when they beat West Indies—the eventual winners—during the 2016 ICC T20 World Cup. This was a turning point, showing the world that Afghanistan was not only a team to play, but a team that could play and beat the best.

2023 Cricket World Cup: A Historic Campaign

The 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup was a seminal tournament for Afghanistan. They achieved three monumental wins that shook the cricket world:

• Thrilling England: Afghanistan stunned the title-holders with a 69-run win, one of the greatest World Cup upsets.
• Historic ODI win vs Pakistan: A seminal moment in the cricketing history of Afghanistan.
• Overwhelming Sri Lanka: An easy 7-wicket triumph highlighted their confidence and skill.

Ending 6th in the tournament, Afghanistan showed they were contenders.

2024 T20 World Cup: Semi-Finalists

The success continued for Afghanistan in the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, as they made their first-ever semi-final appearance in an ICC tournament. They got through with some nail-biting victories over:

• New Zealand – A crushing performance that left the Kiwis reeling.
• Australia – A huge upset against cricket's powerhouse team.
• Bangladesh – The deciding victory that sealed their semi-final position.

Though their campaign is cut short in the semi-finals, this tournament established Afghanistan as a force to be reckoned with in T20 cricket.

2025 Champions Trophy: Another emphatic Win Against England

Afghanistan's resurgence continued in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, knocking England out of the tournament with another dazzling win. This victory reaffirmed their increasing superiority in white-ball cricket and muzzled any lingering skepticisms.

Key Reasons Behind Afghanistan's Success

1. World-Class Spin  Attack: The greatest strength of Afghanistan is their spin bowling, spearheaded by Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Noor Ahmad. Their capability to dominate under various conditions has made Afghanistan a difficult team to play against.

2. Fearless Batting Style: With fearless players such as Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Najibullah Zadran, Afghanistan has built a batting order that plays fearlessly and with confidence.

3. Good Leadership and Coaching: With experienced leaders such as Jonathan Trott at the helm, Afghanistan has cultivated a winning mentality that has enabled them to compete at the elite level.

4. Resilience Against All Odds: Through political and infrastructural adversity, Afghan cricketers have stuck to what they love. Their never-give-up spirit has been central to their achievements.

Afghanistan’s rise in world cricket is one of the most inspiring stories in modern sports. From humble beginnings to defeating cricketing giants, their journey reflects hard work, talent, and sheer determination.