Introduction: Afghanistan National Cricket Team vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team Timeline

If you’ve ever watched a cricket rivalry grow right in front of your eyes, you know it’s a bit like watching a sapling push through rock. Slow at first… then suddenly it blossoms. That’s exactly how the Afghanistan vs Australia timeline feels. I’ve followed this journey from their very first meeting, and honestly, each game has this strange mix of grit, heartbreak, and “wait, did that really just happen?”

Before I dive into the raw story, here’s the timeline table again—because sometimes it’s easier to relive cricket when it’s laid out plainly.

Head-to-Head Timeline Table

Year	Format	Venue	Result	Key Moments & Highlights
2012	ODI	Sharjah	Australia by 66 runs	Afghan debut vs Australia; spirited bowling; big moment for Afghan cricket.
2015	ODI WC	Perth	Australia by 275 runs	Aussies hit 417; learning curve match for Afghanistan.
2019	ODI WC	Bristol	Australia by 7 wickets	Rahmat Shah shines; Warner & Finch too strong.
2022	T20 WC	Adelaide	Australia by 4 runs	Rashid Khan nearly steals the game; nail-biter.
2023	ODI WC	Mumbai	Australia by 3 wickets	Maxwell’s legendary 201* rescue; Afghanistan had them at 91/7.
2024	T20 WC	St. Vincent	Afghanistan won by 21 runs	Historic first win vs Australia; bowling masterclass.

How It All Began: Sharjah, 2012 — A Door Opens

If you were watching Afghanistan cricket back in 2012, you’d remember that feeling—like a young team walking into a big classroom full of giants. Their first meeting with Australia was nothing short of symbolic.

Sure, Australia won by 66 runs, but I still feel like Afghanistan walked off a bit taller. They bowled with heart, chased bravely, and looked like they belonged on that field.

It was the kind of game where you say, “Yaar, give them a few years—they’ll surprise the world.”

Spoiler: They did.

2015 World Cup – The Harsh Lesson in Perth

I won’t sugarcoat it—this one stung.

Australia piled up 417, and watching Afghanistan chase that was like watching someone climb a mountain wearing slippers. It was rough. But trust me, teams don’t grow without these bruises.

Even I remember thinking, “This is going to harden them.”

And it did.

This match was the reminder that experience beats enthusiasm—but Afghanistan was quietly collecting that experience like gold dust.

2019 – A More Mature Afghanistan Steps Up

Fast-forward to 2019.

Something felt different.

Afghanistan wasn’t just showing up—they were competing. Rahmat Shah played those silky drives, and even though Australia chased the target with ease, Afghanistan’s confidence was miles ahead of 2015.

You could sense it…
That spark. That belief.

The Australians weren’t laughing this team off anymore.

2022 – The Night Rashid Nearly Broke Australia’s Heart

Ahhh… Adelaide, 2022.

If you watched this match live, you probably still remember your heartbeat doing cardio. Australia posted a decent total, but Afghanistan—oh man—they chased like warriors.

And the ending?

Rashid Khan batting like he was fueled by pure destiny.

He almost stole the game. Almost.

Australia escaped by just 4 runs, but Afghanistan walked out with global respect. You could feel a shift. A quiet whisper in the cricket world:

“These guys aren’t underdogs anymore.”

2023 – Maxwell’s Miracle and Afghanistan’s Agony

This one still feels unreal.

At 91/7, Australia were pretty much buried. Afghanistan’s bowlers were breathing fire. Fans were already tweeting “historic upset loading…”

And then Glenn Maxwell happened.

A double century.

On one leg.

In a chase.

I still remember staring at the screen thinking, This is either the greatest knock ever… or the biggest heartbreak in Afghanistan’s cricket history.

Turned out it was both.

Afghanistan lost, but they made Australia taste fear for the first time.

2024 – The Match That Changed Everything

History doesn’t knock.

It kicks the door down.

In 2024, Afghanistan finally defeated Australia—by 21 runs—in the T20 World Cup.

Let me tell you, this wasn’t luck. This was discipline. Strategy. Pressure. Their bowlers squeezed Australia like a pressure cooker that just wouldn’t whistle.

And when that final wicket fell…

It wasn’t just a win.
It was a statement.

For fans like me, it felt like watching a younger sibling finally win a fight against the older one who always dominated.

I swear I had goosebumps.

A Rivalry That’s Just Getting Started

What makes this timeline special isn’t the win-loss column. It’s the journey.

Australia:
A team with trophies, class, and history.

Afghanistan:
A team built on passion, perseverance, and dreams bigger than stadium lights.

Every match between these two feels like a story—sometimes a thriller, sometimes a tragedy, sometimes an underdog fairytale.

And the best part?

This rivalry is still young.

Give it a few more years, and this could easily become one of cricket’s most emotional, unpredictable showdowns.

Final Thoughts (From One Cricket Lover to Another)

If you ask me which match defined this rivalry, my heart says 2024.
But if you ask which match changed world cricket forever—it’s 2023, Glenn Maxwell’s miracle.

This timeline has everything: