The rivalry between the Pakistan National Cricket Team and the Afghanistan National Cricket Team is a story of legacy meeting fearless ambition, where Pakistan’s rich cricketing history and world class bowling attack collide with Afghanistan’s rapid rise and bold style of play, and the standings between these two teams reflect Pakistan’s long standing dominance but also highlight Afghanistan’s growing ability to challenge and create thrilling moments that have captured global attention.
Latest Matches
Tournament
Venue
Date
Pakistan Score
Afghanistan Score
Result
Series
Bilateral T20I
Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Sep 7, 2025
141/8 (20 overs)
66 (15.5 overs)
Pakistan won by 75 runs
UAE T20I Tri-Series Final
Bilateral T20I
Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Sep 2, 2025
151/9 (20 overs)
169/5 (20 overs)
Afghanistan won by 18 runs
UAE T20I Tri-Series
Bilateral T20I
Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Aug 29, 2025
182/7 (20 overs)
143 (19.5 overs)
Pakistan won by 39 runs
UAE T20I Tri-Series
ODI World Cup
Chennai
Oct 23, 2023
282/7 (50 overs)
286/2 (49 overs)
Afghanistan won by 8 wkts
ODI World Cup 2023
Bilateral ODI
Colombo (RPS)
Aug 26, 2023
268/8 (50 overs)
209 (all out)
Pakistan won by 59 runs
Bilateral ODI
Bilateral ODI
Hambantota
Aug 24, 2023
302/9 (50 overs)
300/5 (50 overs)
Pakistan won by 1 wicket
Bilateral ODI
Bilateral ODI
Hambantota
Aug 22, 2023
201 (49.4 overs)
59 (all out)
Pakistan won by 142 runs
Bilateral ODI
ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings
Rank
Team
Matches
Points
Rating
1
India
85
23224
273
2
England
56
14522
259
3
Australia
49
12645
258
4
New Zealand
71
17692
249
5
Pakistan
78+
17604+
238
ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings
Rank
Team
Matches
Points
Rating
1
India
–
5377
119
2
New Zealand
47
5370
114
3
Australia
38
4134
109
4
Pakistan
44
4475
102
5
South Africa
41
4022
98
6
Sri Lanka
47
4600
98
7
Afghanistan
28
2657
95
Tournament-wise Standings
Position
Team
Played
Won
Lost
No Result
Points
1
Pakistan
3
2
1
0
4
2
Afghanistan
3
2
1
0
4
3
UAE
2
0
2
0
0
When Experience Meets Fearless Cricket
The standings between Pakistan and Afghanistan are shaped by years of experience on one side and a hunger to prove on the other, where Pakistan has consistently dominated due to its depth and exposure at the highest level while Afghanistan has entered the scene with confidence and aggression, making every encounter a narrative of underdog spirit challenging established strength.
Format
Matches Played
Pakistan Wins
Afghanistan Wins
No Result
ODIs
10 plus
Strong lead
Few
Rare
T20Is
10 plus
Slight lead
Competitive
Few
Overall
25 plus
Dominant
Improving
Limited
Recent
Last 10
Close
Competitive
Few
Trend
Stable
Rising
Competitive
Growing
The Rankings Battle and Global Recognition
The International Cricket Council rankings tell a deeper story where Pakistan continues to hold a strong position among top cricketing nations while Afghanistan is rapidly climbing the ladder, especially in T20 Internationals, turning the standings into a battle between established excellence and emerging power.
Format
Pakistan Rank
Afghanistan Rank
Pakistan Strength
Afghanistan Strength
Trend
Tests
Top tier
Emerging
Pace attack
Growth
Stable
ODIs
Top tier
Competitive
Bowling depth
Spin attack
Rising
T20Is
Top tier
Strong
Unpredictability
Aggression
Strong
Overall
Elite
Rising
Talent
Rapid progress
Positive
Future
Strong
High potential
Experience
Expansion
Upward
Matches That Changed the Narrative
Every match between Pakistan and Afghanistan adds a new chapter to their rivalry, where Pakistan has often emerged victorious through composure and experience while Afghanistan has delivered unforgettable performances that have pushed games to the edge, proving that standings alone cannot define the intensity of their contests.
Year
Match Type
Winner
Margin
Key Moment
2023
ODI
Pakistan
Narrow
Last over finish
2022
T20
Afghanistan
Close
Spin dominance
2021
T20
Pakistan
Tight
Pressure chase
2019
ODI
Pakistan
Close
Dramatic end
2018
T20
Afghanistan
Competitive
Breakthrough win
Players Who Write the Story
The standings between these teams are driven by players who bring intensity and match winning ability, where Pakistan relies on its world class bowlers and technically strong batters while Afghanistan thrives on its explosive players and spin specialists who can change the course of a match in a few overs.
Team
Batsman
Bowler
All Rounder
X Factor Player
Pakistan
Babar Azam
Shaheen Afridi
Shadab Khan
Mohammad Rizwan
Afghanistan
Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Rashid Khan
Mohammad Nabi
Ibrahim Zadran
Pakistan
Fakhar Zaman
Haris Rauf
Imad Wasim
Iftikhar Ahmed
Afghanistan
Hashmatullah Shahidi
Fazalhaq Farooqi
Azmatullah Omarzai
Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Combined
Match winners
Strike bowlers
Game changers
Impact players
ICC Tournaments and High Pressure Moments
ICC tournaments have elevated the rivalry between Pakistan and Afghanistan, where Pakistan’s experience in global events often gives it an advantage while Afghanistan has shown remarkable growth by competing strongly and challenging top teams, making their clashes in tournaments highly intense and significant for standings.
Tournament
Pakistan Record
Afghanistan Record
Best Pakistan Result
Best Afghanistan Result
ODI World Cup
Champion
Emerging
Winner
Group stage progress
T20 World Cup
Champion
Strong
Winner
Semi finalist
Champions Trophy
Winner
Limited
Champion
Rare appearances
Qualifiers
Rare
Frequent
Direct entry
Strong success
Overall ICC
Elite
Rising
Historic success
Rapid growth
Conditions That Shape the Outcome
Conditions play a major role in determining standings between Pakistan and Afghanistan, where Pakistan performs strongly in varied conditions with its balanced attack while Afghanistan excels in spin friendly environments where its bowlers become highly effective, making venue a crucial factor in this rivalry.
Venue Type
Pakistan Wins
Afghanistan Wins
Advantage Team
Key Condition
Impact Level
Pakistan
High
Low
Pakistan
Balanced
High
Asia
Competitive
Strong
Afghanistan
Spin
High
Neutral
Strong
Competitive
Pakistan
Mixed
Medium
ICC Events
High
Competitive
Pakistan
Experience
High
Overall
Strong
Improving
Pakistan
Adaptability
High
The Future Chapter of This Rivalry
The future of the standings between Pakistan and Afghanistan promises an exciting journey where Afghanistan continues to grow and challenge stronger teams while Pakistan aims to maintain its dominance through experience and talent, ensuring that this rivalry becomes even more competitive and impactful in international cricket.
Factor
Pakistan Advantage
Afghanistan Advantage
Overall Impact
Future Trend
Competition Level
Experience
Very high
Moderate
Strong
Stable
High
Squad Depth
Strong
Improving
Key
Rising
High
Spin Strength
Moderate
Very strong
Important
Increasing
High
Bowling Strength
Very strong
Strong
Decisive
Stable
High
Growth Potential
Consistent
Very high
Long term
Rapid rise
High
Conclusion
The standings between Pakistan and Afghanistan tell a story beyond numbers where tradition meets ambition and experience faces fearless growth, with Pakistan maintaining a strong historical advantage while Afghanistan continues to close the gap through impressive performances and rising talent, ensuring that this rivalry will remain one of the most exciting and evolving contests in modern cricket.