Major honours
The fastest rise in cricket history. Built around a generation that learned the game in Pakistani refugee camps, Afghanistan formed its cricket board in 1995, gained ODI status in 2009, and became a Test-status Full Member alongside Ireland in 2017. It played its first Test against India in Bangalore in 2018 and recorded its first win, over Ireland in Dehradun, in only its second Test the following year. Its strength lies overwhelmingly in spin. Rashid Khan spent years as the world's top-ranked T20 bowler and, alongside Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, became a sought-after pick in franchise leagues everywhere. Afghanistan beat England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in succession at the 2023 ODI World Cup for four wins overall, and reached the semifinals of the 2024 T20 World Cup by beating Australia by 21 runs in St. Vincent. Lacking international-standard facilities and security at home, it continues to play home matches in the UAE and India.
Record comparison
Bars are scaled to the strongest team in this list.
Club legends
Rivalry
Ireland, which gained Test status in the same year and has traded first Test wins with Afghanistan, serves as a benchmark rivalry between the sport's newest nations. Beating Pakistan for the first time at the 2023 World Cup also gave matches against that neighbor new significance.