Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka Head-to-Head Records

Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka has developed into a competitive international cricket rivalry across ODIs, T20Is and Tests. Sri Lanka still lead the overall head-to-head in every format, but Afghanistan have closed the gap through several important wins, including their famous seven-wicket victory at the 2023 ODI World Cup. The rivalry has also produced dramatic Asia Cup matches, close T20I finishes and a one-off Test in Colombo. Through October 2026, the teams have played 15 ODIs, nine T20Is and one Test against each other. Sri Lanka lead the ODI record 10-4, the T20I record 6-3 and won their only Test meeting. The planned March 2026 white-ball series in the UAE was postponed, so it did not add to those totals.

Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka Head-to-Head Record

Sri Lanka’s greater international experience is reflected in the overall record, particularly in ODIs. Afghanistan, however, have become much more competitive since 2022 and have recorded major victories at neutral venues and in global tournaments.

Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka ODI Record

The two teams have played 15 ODIs, with Sri Lanka winning 10 and Afghanistan winning four. One match ended without a result.

Their ODI rivalry has grown rapidly because of bilateral series, Asia Cup games and World Cup meetings.

Afghanistan’s four victories include the important 2023 World Cup win in Pune, while Sri Lanka swept the three-match ODI series at home in February 2024.

Sri Lanka’s 2024 home series also produced one of the greatest individual batting performances in the rivalry when Pathum Nissanka scored an unbeaten 210 in the opening ODI.

Asia Cup 2022 – Afghanistan Dominate the Opening Clash

One of Afghanistan’s biggest early victories over Sri Lanka came in the 2022 Asia Cup.

Afghanistan’s bowlers produced a dominant performance and dismissed Sri Lanka for a small total before completing a comfortable chase.

The result immediately placed Afghanistan among the teams capable of challenging established Asian sides in the T20 format.

Sri Lanka, however, recovered strongly during the tournament and later defeated Afghanistan in the Super Four stage on their way to winning the Asia Cup.

That contrast made the 2022 competition an important turning point in the rivalry. Afghanistan had shown they could dominate Sri Lanka on their day, but Sri Lanka’s greater tournament experience helped them respond when the stakes increased.

Asia Cup 2023 – A Two-Run Thriller

The 2023 Asia Cup produced one of the most dramatic Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka matches ever played.

Sri Lanka scored 291/8 in Lahore.

Afghanistan faced an unusual qualification situation. They needed to chase 292 in 37.1 overs or less to move ahead of Sri Lanka on net run rate and qualify for the Super Four stage.

Mohammad Nabi almost changed the match completely.

He smashed the fastest ODI fifty by an Afghanistan batter at the time and pushed his team close to the required rate.

Afghanistan reached 200 in only 26 overs and still had a realistic chance of qualifying.

After Nabi was dismissed, Rashid Khan and Najibullah Zadran kept the chase alive. Afghanistan reached 289 but eventually lost their final wicket, and Sri Lanka won by only two runs.

The match became famous not only for the narrow margin but also because Afghanistan misunderstood some of the later net-run-rate qualification combinations. Even after missing the 37.1-over target, there were still scenarios in which they could have qualified with boundaries in subsequent deliveries.

2023 ODI World Cup – Afghanistan’s Famous Victory

Afghanistan produced one of their greatest World Cup performances against Sri Lanka in Pune on October 30, 2023.

Sri Lanka were bowled out for 241.

Fazalhaq Farooqi led Afghanistan’s bowling attack with four wickets, while Rashid Khan also made an important contribution in his 100th ODI.

Afghanistan lost Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck in the first over, but Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah stabilized the chase.

Ibrahim made 39, Rahmat scored 62 and the middle order finished the job.

Hashmatullah Shahidi remained unbeaten on 58, while Azmatullah Omarzai made 73 not out.

Afghanistan reached 242/3 in 45.2 overs and won by seven wickets with 28 balls remaining.

The win was significant because it strengthened Afghanistan’s semifinal hopes and demonstrated that their improvement was not limited to T20 cricket.

Afghanistan and Sri Lanka have met three times in ODI World Cups. Sri Lanka won in 2015 and 2019, while Afghanistan claimed their first World Cup victory over them in 2023.

The 2024 ODI Series in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka dominated the three-match ODI series in February 2024, winning all three games.

The first ODI became a batting classic.

Pathum Nissanka scored 210 not out, the first double century by a Sri Lankan batter in men’s ODI cricket. Sri Lanka reached 381/3.

Afghanistan responded strongly with 339/6.

Azmatullah Omarzai made an unbeaten 149, while Mohammad Nabi scored 136, but Sri Lanka still won by 42 runs.

Sri Lanka won the second ODI by 155 runs and the third by seven wickets to complete the 3-0 sweep.

Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka T20I Record

Sri Lanka lead the T20I head-to-head 6-3 after nine matches.

The rivalry includes two T20 World Cup matches, Asia Cup games, a 2024 bilateral series and the 2025 Asia Cup.

Afghanistan’s victories have shown their increasing strength in the shortest format, but Sri Lanka have generally performed better in major tournament meetings.

T20 World Cup Meetings

Sri Lanka and Afghanistan first met at the Men’s T20 World Cup in 2016 at Eden Gardens.

Afghanistan scored 153/7, with captain Asghar Stanikzai making 62.

Sri Lanka chased the target in 18.5 overs.

Tillakaratne Dilshan controlled the innings with an unbeaten 83 from 56 balls, giving Sri Lanka a six-wicket victory.

Their second T20 World Cup meeting came in Australia in 2022.

Afghanistan scored 144/8.

Wanindu Hasaranga was outstanding for Sri Lanka, taking 3/13 in four overs and removing Usman Ghani, Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

Sri Lanka reached 148/4 and won by six wickets.

Sri Lanka therefore hold a 2-0 record against Afghanistan in Men’s T20 World Cup matches.

The 2024 T20I Series

Sri Lanka won the 2024 three-match T20I series 2-1.

The first match was extremely close.

Sri Lanka scored 160, led by Wanindu Hasaranga’s 67 from 32 balls.

Afghanistan reached 156/9 and lost by only four runs.

Matheesha Pathirana was Player of the Match after taking 4/24, including a brilliant 19th over in which he repeatedly hit speeds around 150 km/h and bowled two batters.

Sri Lanka won the second T20I by 72 runs.

Afghanistan responded in the final match by scoring 209/5 and winning by three runs, preventing a clean sweep.

Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka Test Record

Afghanistan and Sri Lanka have played one Test match.

The game took place at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo in February 2024.

Sri Lanka won the match, giving them a 1-0 Test head-to-head advantage.

Afghanistan still had an important individual highlight.

Ibrahim Zadran scored 114 in the second innings after being dismissed for a duck in the first. His innings lasted 259 balls and included 12 fours.

Sri Lanka’s more experienced Test batting lineup, including Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal, proved decisive.

Rashid Khan vs Sri Lanka

Rashid Khan has been one of Afghanistan’s most important players against Sri Lanka, particularly in limited-overs cricket.

His most valuable role has often been controlling the middle overs and forcing Sri Lanka’s batters to take risks against other bowlers.

At the 2023 World Cup, Rashid marked his 100th ODI by dismissing Dhananjaya de Silva and taking a catch during Afghanistan’s seven-wicket victory.

He also played a major role in Afghanistan’s dramatic Asia Cup 2023 chase, contributing late runs as they attempted to reach Sri Lanka’s target quickly enough for qualification.

Rashid missed the 2024 Sri Lanka series after back surgery, which removed one of Afghanistan’s strongest bowling options.

Mohammad Nabi vs Sri Lanka

Mohammad Nabi has produced several of Afghanistan’s strongest batting performances against Sri Lanka.

His most memorable Asia Cup innings came in 2023 when he attacked immediately and gave Afghanistan a genuine chance of completing the required chase inside the qualification limit.

Nabi was also brilliant in the opening ODI of the 2024 bilateral series.

He scored 136 while combining with Azmatullah Omarzai during Afghanistan’s chase of 382.

Across that three-match series, Nabi scored 151 runs, with his 136 accounting for most of his total.

Ibrahim Zadran vs Sri Lanka

Ibrahim Zadran has produced valuable innings against Sri Lanka in all formats.

He scored 39 during Afghanistan’s 2023 World Cup victory and played an important supporting role after Gurbaz was dismissed early.

His best performance against Sri Lanka came in Test cricket.

Ibrahim scored 114 in Colombo in 2024, showing patience against Sri Lanka’s experienced bowling attack.

He also made an unbeaten 67 in the first T20I of the 2024 series, almost taking Afghanistan to victory before Pathirana’s late spell changed the match.

Pathum Nissanka vs Afghanistan

Pathum Nissanka owns the biggest batting performance in Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka history.

His unbeaten 210 at Pallekele in February 2024 was Sri Lanka’s first men’s ODI double century and the highest ODI score by a Sri Lankan batter at that time.

He faced 139 balls and helped Sri Lanka reach 381/3.

Nissanka dominated the entire ODI series, scoring 346 runs from three matches with two centuries.

Wanindu Hasaranga vs Afghanistan

Wanindu Hasaranga has been particularly successful against Afghanistan in T20 cricket.

His 3/13 at the 2022 T20 World Cup earned him Player of the Match as Sri Lanka won by six wickets.

He also made 67 from 32 balls in the opening T20I of the 2024 series.

That innings rescued Sri Lanka after early wickets and set up the four-run victory.

Hasaranga’s combination of aggressive lower-order batting and leg-spin makes him a difficult matchup for Afghanistan.

Matheesha Pathirana vs Afghanistan

Matheesha Pathirana produced one of the best T20I bowling performances in this rivalry in February 2024.

He took 4/24 as Sri Lanka defended 160 by four runs.

His death bowling was decisive.

Afghanistan needed 14 from the final two overs before Pathirana’s 19th over included two bowled dismissals and left them requiring 11 from the final over.

Pathirana’s slingy action, high pace and yorkers make him especially dangerous late in an innings.

Best Batting Performances in Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka Matches

Nissanka’s 210 not out is comfortably the biggest individual score in the rivalry and one of Sri Lanka’s greatest ODI innings.

Best Bowling Performances

Farooqi’s four-wicket performance was central to Afghanistan’s 2023 World Cup win, while Pathirana’s 4/24 remains one of the most dramatic death-bowling displays in the bilateral rivalry.

Conclusion

Sri Lanka currently lead Afghanistan across all three international formats.

They have won 10 of 15 ODIs, six of nine T20Is and the only Test between the sides. Afghanistan have four ODI wins, three T20I victories and one ODI no-result completes the overall limited-overs record.

The numbers, however, do not fully describe how competitive the rivalry has become.

Afghanistan’s seven-wicket victory at the 2023 ODI World Cup was one of their greatest global tournament performances. The 2023 Asia Cup match ended by only two runs, and the 2024 T20I series included four-run and three-run finishes.

Sri Lanka still have the stronger overall record and have won both T20 World Cup meetings, but Afghanistan’s rise has transformed the fixture into a much more balanced contest.

Players such as Rashid Khan, Nabi and Ibrahim Zadran remain central for Afghanistan, while Nissanka, Hasaranga and Pathirana have already produced record performances for Sri Lanka.

FAQs

How many ODIs have Afghanistan and Sri Lanka played?

Afghanistan and Sri Lanka have played 15 ODIs through October 2026.

Who leads the Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka ODI head-to-head?

Sri Lanka lead 10-4, with one match ending without a result.

How many T20Is have Afghanistan and Sri Lanka played?

They have played nine T20Is.

Who leads the Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka T20I record?

Sri Lanka lead the T20I head-to-head 6-3.

How many Tests have Afghanistan and Sri Lanka played?

They have played one Test, in Colombo in February 2024.

Who won the only Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka Test?

Sri Lanka won the match.

Who won Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka at the 2023 ODI World Cup?

Afghanistan won by seven wickets after chasing 242 in 45.2 overs.

What happened in the Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup 2023 match?

Sri Lanka won by two runs after scoring 291/8. Afghanistan were chasing both the match and a demanding net-run-rate qualification target.

Who has the highest score in Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka matches?

Pathum Nissanka scored 210 not out in an ODI in 2024.

What is Mohammad Nabi’s highest score against Sri Lanka?

Nabi scored 136 during Afghanistan’s chase in the first ODI of the 2024 series.

What is Ibrahim Zadran’s best Test score against Sri Lanka?

Ibrahim scored 114 in the one-off Test in Colombo in 2024.

What are Matheesha Pathirana’s best figures against Afghanistan?

Pathirana took 4/24 in the first T20I of the 2024 series.

What did Wanindu Hasaranga do against Afghanistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup?

Hasaranga took 3/13 and was Player of the Match as Sri Lanka won by six wickets.

How many T20 World Cup matches have Afghanistan and Sri Lanka played?

They have met twice in the Men’s T20 World Cup, in 2016 and 2022.

Who has won more Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka T20 World Cup matches?

Sri Lanka have won both meetings.

Did Afghanistan and Sri Lanka play their planned 2026 bilateral series?

No. The UAE white-ball series scheduled for March 2026 was postponed because of regional military conflict and related travel and logistical problems.