Afghanistan cricket has been one of the most exciting teams to watch in the Asia Cup over the last few years. Known for their fearless batting and quality spinners, they have produced several high-scoring encounters, both in the T20 Asia Cup and ODI Asia Cup. From Mohammad Shahzad’s power-hitting to Najibullah Zadran’s finishing knocks, Afghanistan has built a reputation for competing hard against Asian giants like India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
In this article, we look at Afghanistan’s highest team scores in Asia Cup history, both in T20Is and ODIs, and highlight their top 5 innings with context, key performers, and match results.
Afghanistan’s Highest Score in Asia Cup (T20)
Afghanistan’s highest total in the Asia Cup T20 format came against Hong Kong in 2016, when they posted 178/7 in 20 overs at Mirpur. This innings was powered by Najibullah Zadran’s 60 (35)* and Asghar Afghan’s 49, taking the team to a strong total before bowling out Hong Kong for 112 and winning by 66 runs.
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Top 5 Highest Scores for Afghanistan – Asia Cup (T20)
| Rank | Score | Overs | Opposition | Ground | Result | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 178/7 | 20.0 | vs Hong Kong | Mirpur | Won by 66 runs | 2016 |
| 2 | 175/6 | 20.0 | vs Sri Lanka | Sharjah | Lost by 4 runs | 2022 |
| 3 | 168/7 | 19.3 | vs Oman | Fatullah | Won by 3 wickets | 2016 |
| 4 | 160 | 19.5 | vs UAE | Fatullah | Lost by 16 runs | 2016 |
| 5 | 131/3 | 18.3 | vs Bangladesh | Sharjah | Won by 7 wickets | 2022 |
These innings show Afghanistan’s ability to consistently post competitive scores, especially against associate and full-member nations in T20 cricket.
Afghanistan’s Highest Score in Asia Cup (ODI)
In the ODI format, Afghanistan’s best performance came in the 2023 Asia Cup against Sri Lanka in Lahore, where they scored 289 runs in 37.4 overs chasing a massive 292-run target. Despite falling short by just 2 runs, it was one of their most memorable batting efforts with Mohammad Nabi smashing a quickfire 65 off 32 balls.
Their highest first-innings total in Asia Cup ODIs came against Bangladesh in 2018, when they scored 257/6 in 50 overs in Abu Dhabi but narrowly lost.
Top 5 Highest Scores for Afghanistan – Asia Cup (ODI)
| Rank | Score | Overs | Opposition | Ground | Result | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 289 | 37.4 | vs Sri Lanka | Lahore | Lost by 2 runs | 2023 |
| 2 | 257/6 | 50.0 | vs Pakistan | Abu Dhabi | Lost by 3 wickets | 2018 |
| 3 | 255/7 | 50.0 | vs Bangladesh | Abu Dhabi | Won by 136 runs | 2018 |
| 4 | 252/8 | 50.0 | vs India | Dubai (DICS) | Match Tied | 2018 |
| 5 | 249 | 50.0 | vs Sri Lanka | Abu Dhabi | Won by 91 runs | 2018 |
Key Takeaways
- T20 Format: Afghanistan’s 178/7 against Hong Kong remains their highest T20 total in Asia Cup history.
- ODI Format: Their highest ODI score came while chasing (289 vs Sri Lanka, 2023) – showing their improved batting depth.
- Key Players: Mohammad Shahzad, Asghar Afghan, Najibullah Zadran, and Mohammad Nabi have been the backbone of Afghanistan’s batting efforts in Asia Cups.
- Competitive Spirit: Even in losing causes, Afghanistan has pushed top Asian teams to the limit, proving they are no longer underdogs but true contenders.
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Conclusion
Afghanistan’s batting performances in the Asia Cup reflect the rise of their cricket on the global stage. Whether it’s T20 fireworks or ODI run-chases, they continue to challenge the big teams and entertain fans. With players like Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran in top form, Afghanistan’s future in the Asia Cup looks even brighter, and we may soon see them breach the 300-run mark in ODIs or 200-plus in T20Is.
