The Bangladesh vs Afghanistan cricket rivalry has produced some memorable matches in the last few years.
Ever since the Afghanistan cricket team was granted full membership by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2017, the Asian cricketing nation has gone from strength to strength.
With the rise of Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Hazratullah Zazai and Mujeeb Ur Rahman in the ranks, Afghanistan has become one of the strongest oppositions in limited-overs cricket, especially in the T20 international format.
Afghanistan and the Bangladesh cricket team first played T20I cricket in 2014. Led by captain Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh thrashed Afghanistan by nine wickets in their first-ever T20I meeting during a 2014 ICC World Twenty20 clash in Mirpur.
Since then, Afghanistan has dominated Bangladesh in T20 international cricket. Afghanistan has won six of the nine T20I matches against Bangladesh so far.
Both Afghanistan and Bangladesh have registered numerous records during their T20I battles and here we take a closer look at some of those Bangladesh vs Afghanistan T20I records and stats.
Bangladesh vs Afghanistan T20I records and stats
Highest team total
The Afghanistan cricket team holds the record for the highest team total in Bangladesh vs Afghanistan T20 internationals. Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Shahzad’s 40 off 37 balls and all-rounder Samiullah Shinwari’s 18-ball 36 helped Afghanistan post 167/8 in their 20 overs against Bangladesh in Dehradun in June 2018. Afghanistan later bowled out Bangladesh for 122 in 19 overs to secure a 45-run victory. Rashid Khan and Shapoor Zadran were the wreckers-in-chief for Afghanistan with three wickets each.
Lowest team total
Afghanistan also own the unwanted record for the lowest team total in this T20 fixture. Hosts Bangladesh bundled out Afghanistan for 72 in 17.1 overs during their First Round Group A fixture in the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 in Mirpur. Gulbadin Naib top-scored for Afghanistan with 21. On the other hand, Shakib Al Hasan was the standout bowler for the hosts with three wickets. Bangladesh later chased down the required target in just 12 overs to register a comprehensive nine-wicket win.
Most runs
Bangladesh’s Mohammad Mahmudullah has scored the most runs in Bangladesh vs Afghanistan T20Is. The veteran batter has amassed 194 runs in nine matches at an average of 24.25 and a strike rate of 116.86. For Afghanistan, Mohammad Nabi has scored the most runs in this T20 fixture. Nabi has scored 149 runs in eight innings so far.
Most wickets
Afghanistan bowling spearhead Rashid Khan has picked up the most wickets against Bangladesh in T20 cricket. The leg-spinner has already bagged 17 wickets in eight matches at an average of 9.76 and an economy of 5.53. For Bangladesh, Shakib Al Hasan holds the record for the most wickets against Afghanistan in this T20I fixture. The orthodox left-arm spinner has scalped 11 wickets in nine T20I matches versus Afghanistan.
Highest individual score
Former Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi is the current record holder for the highest individual score in this T20I fixture. Batting at number six, Nabi smashed an unbeaten 84 off just 54 balls to power Afghanistan to 164/6 in their 20 overs during the third T20I of the Bangladesh Twenty20 Tri-Series in 2019. Nabi’s swashbuckling knock was laced with three fours and seven sixes. Afghanistan later bowled out Bangladesh for 139 to win the T20I by 25 runs.
Best bowling figures
Bangladesh’s Nasum Ahmed holds the record for the best bowling figures in Bangladesh vs Afghanistan T20Is. The left-arm spinner finished with figures of 4-0-10-4 to help the hosts skittle out Afghanistan for 94 runs and secure a 61-run victory in Mirpur in the first T20I of a two-match series in 2022. Earlier, Bangladesh posted 155/8 in their 20 overs courtesy Litton Das’ 44-ball 60.
Highest partnership
Afghanistan’s Hazratullah Zazai and Usman Ghani own the record for the highest partnership in this T20 fixture. During the second T20I of Afghanistan’s tour of Bangladesh in 2022, Zazai and Ghani recorded a match-winning 99-run partnership for the second wicket to guide the visitors home and register a commanding eight-wicket win in Mirpur. This impressive partnership helped Afghanistan level the two-match T20I series 1-1 as Zazai finished on 59 not out and Ghani was dismissed for 47.
Photo credit: Alamy
