Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Matches

The rivalry between the Sri Lankan Lions and the Afghan Atalan has evolved into one of Asia’s most competitive cricket battles, characterized by nail-biting finishes and massive individual performances. From Pathum Nissanka’s historic double century to high-stakes Asia Cup thrillers, every encounter now carries intense tournament implications and regional pride.

Last 7 Head-to-Head Encounters

Date	Format	Venue	Result	Top Performer
18 Sep 2025	T20	Abu Dhabi	SL won by 6 wickets	Kusal Mendis (74*)
21 Feb 2024	T20	Dambulla	AFG won by 3 runs	Rahmanullah Gurbaz (70)
19 Feb 2024	T20	Dambulla	SL won by 72 runs	Angelo Mathews (42 & 2/9)
17 Feb 2024	T20	Dambulla	SL won by 4 runs	Matheesha Pathirana (4/24)
14 Feb 2024	ODI	Pallekele	SL won by 7 wickets	Pathum Nissanka (118)
11 Feb 2024	ODI	Pallekele	SL won by 155 runs	Charith Asalanka (97*)
09 Feb 2024	ODI	Pallekele	SL won by 42 runs	Pathum Nissanka (210*)

Upcoming Series Schedule: Sri Lanka Tour of Afghanistan 2026

Note: This series, originally scheduled for March 2026, has been rescheduled to the last quarter of 2026 due to regional logistical challenges.

Date (TBC)	Match	Format	Venue
Late 2026	1st T20I	T20	Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
Late 2026	2nd T20I	T20	Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
Late 2026	3rd T20I	T20	Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
Late 2026	1st ODI	ODI	Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Late 2026	2nd ODI	ODI	Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Late 2026	3rd ODI	ODI	Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

Head-to-Head Summary: Overall Records

Format	Total Matches	Sri Lanka Won	Afghanistan Won	No Result/Tie
Test	1	1	0	0
ODI	15	10	4	1
T20I	9	6	3	0
Total	25	17	7	1

Most Memorable Match: The Epic 2-Run Thriller

This 2023 Asia Cup group-stage clash remains the most dramatic encounter, where a miscalculation on net run rate led to a heartbreaking finish for Afghanistan.

Match Event	Details
Tournament	Asia Cup 2023 (Group Stage)
Sri Lanka Score	291/8 (50 Overs)
Afghanistan Score	289 All Out (37.4 Overs)
The Drama	AFG needed to chase 292 in 37.1 overs to qualify. They were unaware they could still qualify with a six on the 37.4th ball.
Top Performer	Mohammad Nabi (65 off 24 balls) & Kusal Mendis (92)
Result	Sri Lanka won by 2 runs

Major Tournament Face-Offs

Year	Tournament	Format	Result
2025	Asia Cup	T20	Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets
2023	ICC ODI World Cup	ODI	Afghanistan won by 7 wickets
2022	ICC T20 World Cup	T20	Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets
2022	Asia Cup (Super 4)	T20	Sri Lanka won by 4 wickets
2022	Asia Cup (Group)	T20	Afghanistan won by 8 wickets
2019	ICC ODI World Cup	ODI	Sri Lanka won by 34 runs
2018	Asia Cup	ODI	Afghanistan won by 91 runs
2015	ICC ODI World Cup	ODI	Sri Lanka won by 4 wickets

Captaincy Comparison: The Leaders

A look at the impact and leadership stats for the current captains across all formats.

Category	Charith Asalanka (SL)	Hashmatullah Shahidi (AFG)
Primary Role	Middle-order Batsman	Top-order Batsman
Batting Style	Left-handed	Left-handed
Leadership Style	Aggressive & Tactical	Calm & Anchored
Win Percentage	62.5%	48.2%
High Score as Captain	97*	80
Key Strength	Finish Rate & Spin Management	Partnership Building

Current ICC Team Rankings

Where both nations stand on the global stage as of today.

Format	Sri Lanka Rank	Afghanistan Rank
Test	6th	N/A (Insufficient Matches)
ODI	7th	9th
T20I	8th	10th

Final Verdict

The rivalry is tightening. While Sri Lanka holds a higher rank across all formats and boasts a more successful win percentage under Asalanka, Afghanistan’s ability to upset top-tier teams makes them a dangerous opponent. The gap between 7th and 9th in ODIs is closing, promising a fierce battle for ranking points in their next series.

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