Afghanistan cricket team has etched its name in the history books by becoming only the second team in the world to win 20 T20I matches at a single venue. The milestone came after their thrilling four-run victory over UAE in the last league match of the ongoing T20I tri-series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
With this win, Afghanistan now holds 20 wins out of 29 T20Is played at Sharjah – a staggering win percentage of nearly 70%. This feat puts them second on the all-time list for most T20I wins at a single ground, just behind Bangladesh, who have 24 wins at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur.
What makes Afghanistan’s achievement even more special is that Sharjah is not their home venue, making them the first team ever to register 20 wins on an away ground in T20I history.
Sharjah has been a happy hunting ground for Afghanistan cricket over the years. The spin-friendly conditions, passionate crowd support, and their own comfort level with UAE pitches have turned the stadium into their unofficial fortress.
In Friday’s match, stand-in captain Ibrahim Zadran led from the front with a brilliant 48 off 35 balls, while wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz chipped in with a steady 40. Together, they added 98 runs for the opening wicket, setting up a strong total of 170/4. Despite a late surge from UAE batters, Afghanistan held their nerves to clinch a nail-biting win by four runs.
Most T20I Wins at a Single Venue – Top 5
Here’s how Afghanistan’s record stacks up among the elite teams:
| Rank | Team | Venue | City | Matches | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bangladesh | Shere Bangla National Stadium | Dhaka | 48 | 24 |
| 2 | Afghanistan | Sharjah Cricket Stadium | Sharjah | 29 | 20 |
| 3 | Pakistan | Dubai International Stadium | Dubai | 32 | 18 |
| 4 | Pakistan | Gaddafi Stadium | Lahore | 26 | 16 |
| 5 | South Africa | The Wanderers Stadium | Johannesburg | 26 | 14 |
This record highlights Afghanistan’s meteoric rise in international cricket. From being ICC associate members a decade ago to becoming a dominant force in T20Is, their consistency at Sharjah proves their ability to challenge top teams on a regular basis.
With the Asia Cup 2025 around the corner and the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 scheduled in India & Sri Lanka, this performance will boost Afghanistan’s confidence heading into bigger challenges.
