Afghanistan National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Timeline

The clash between New Zealand and the budding cricketing team of Afghanistan is something to look out for. The Kiwis have dominated the cricket world along with other cricket giants. The Afghanistan Cricket Federation was formed in 1995 but was given affiliation by the International Cricket Council in 2001. Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, and Noor Ahmad are just a few of the players who have helped the Afghanistan cricket team expand and thrive over time. Although both teams have not played any test match, in the coming times, there may be chances that Afghanistan might be able to claim their place in the World Test Championship.

The Afghanistan National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team timeline will provide a brief yet informative timeline, including stats of both teams.

2015 to 2025: One-Day Internationals

Both teams have played only three matches, and that only in the ICC World Cups- 2014-15, 2019, 2023. The Afghanistan and New Zealand cricket teams' first meeting took place at McLean Park in Napier during the 2014–15 ICC World Cup.

Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first, setting a target of 186 runs with the loss of 10 wickets. Daniel Vittori and Trent Bolut landed the major blows by taking 7 wickets collectively, which destroyed the batting lineup of Afghanistan. New Zealand managed to chase the score in 36.1 overs easily.

The two teams next faced each other at the Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton during the 2019 World Cup. The outcome was similar to the last encounter. Afghanistan placed to total of 172 at the expense of 10 wickets. Lockie Ferguson and James Neesham filled their share of wickets by taking 9 wickets collectively. Kane Williamson’s knock of 79 runs* in 99 balls led the black caps towards victory.

For their latest face-off, they played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai in the 2023 ICC World Cup. New Zealand batting first set up a huge target of 288 runs with major contributions from Will Young (54), Tom Latham(68), and Glen Phillips(71). But Afghanistan's batting lineup succumbed at a total of 139(all out).

In their brief encounter of 3 matches in the one-day matches, New Zealand has dominated Afghanistan.

2021 to 2025: T20 Internationals

The first T20 encounter between Afghanistan and New Zealand took place at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, during the 2021 ICC World T20 Cup. Batting first, New Zealand was only able to set the target of 124 runs in 20 overs. Trent Boult bowled a spectacular spell of 4 overs, only sparing 17 runs and taking 3 wickets. New Zealand chased the target with 2.5 overs remaining with essential contributions from Kane Williamson and Devan Conway. Trent Boult was named Player of the Match.

In the 2024 ICC World Cup, the change in tides began as Afghanistan, who were once rated as minnows, now defeated one of the game's giants of the game New Zealand, by a staggering margin of 84 runs. The wicket keeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored 80 runs in 56 balls, and Ibrahim Zadran’s knock of 44 runs in 41 balls led Afghanistan’s total to 159 runs. Even though the target was not huge but Afghanistan’s bowling attack was the key factor that led to their victory. Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooq, and Mohammad Nabi crushed the Kiwis' batting lineup like a falling domino, only being able to score 75 runs.