Asia Cup 2025: SL vs AFG Head-to-Head Stats & Records

The Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan head to head rivalry in the Asia Cup is relatively new, but it has already delivered some of the tournament’s most gripping moments. They've faced each other 5 times so far, and while Sri Lanka holds a narrow lead with 3 wins to Afghanistan’s 2, the contests have been anything but one-sided. Their first meeting came in 2014, where Sri Lanka, the more experienced side, comfortably won by 129 runs.

But Afghanistan didn’t take long to strike back. In the 2018 edition, they pulled off a stunning 91-run win, knocking Sri Lanka out of the tournament in what was then considered a major upset. Then came their most recent clash in 2023, arguably the most dramatic of the lot. Chasing a steep target, Afghanistan came heartbreakingly close, only to fall short by just 2 runs.

Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Head-to-Head Records in ACC Tournaments: Asia Cup 2025

The SL vs AFG head to head rivalry in the Asia Cup has been quite a thriller. Sri Lanka and Afghanistan have faced each other five times in the Asia Cup, with Sri Lanka holding a slight edge, winning three matches to Afghanistan’s two. Sri Lanka’s highest score against Afghanistan came in 2023 when they put up 291 for 8, narrowly winning by just 2 runs in a thrilling match where Kusal Mendis starred with a powerful 92.

Afghanistan’s best total in the Asia Cup came in 2023 as well, when they scored 289, pushing Sri Lanka right to the edge. Sri Lanka was bowled out for 158 in 2018, a match they lost by a big margin, while Afghanistan’s lowest score against Sri Lanka was 124 in their very first Asia Cup meeting in 2014. Interestingly, neither side has managed a century in these clashes.

SL vs AFG Asia Cup T20 Records

The AFG vs SL rivalry in Asia Cup history took place in Sharjah during the 2022 edition. Each team won one game during that edition, and it was a well-fought battle, eventually won by Sri Lanka as they won the Super 4 match. Sri Lanka managed to chase down Afghanistan’s target and won by 4 wickets in a tense finish. Afghanistan posted a competitive total of 175 for 6, because of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who played a fiery innings of 84 runs off just 45 balls. Ibrahim Zadran chipped in with 40, helping Afghanistan put up a solid score.

When Sri Lanka came out to bat, their openers got them off to a good start. Kusal Mendis scored a quick 36, while Pathum Nissanka made 35. Danushka Gunathilaka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa played important cameo roles, scoring 33 and 31 runs respectively, keeping Sri Lanka on track. Sri Lanka held their nerve to seal the win.

Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Head To Head (2014 – 2025)

According to the latest records from 2014 to 2025, the two teams have played a total of 24 matches across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. In Test cricket, they have met just once, with Sri Lanka dominating the game. This Test clash occurred on 2 February 2024, which SL won by 10 wickets.

In One Day Internationals (ODIs), the SL vs AFG head to head features 15 ODIs, Sri Lanka leads with 10 wins, while Afghanistan has claimed just 4 victories. One of the matches got abandoned. This clearly shows that SL have dominated in the ODI format.

The T20I format has seen slightly better for the Afghanistan side, but still, they are lagging. Out of 8 matches, AFG has won 3, and SL has won 5. These encounters began on 17 March 2016, during the ICC T20 World Cup, and the latest T20 match was played on 21 Feb 2024.

Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Head to Head in Test Cricket

The Test cricket rivalry between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan is still in its early days, with just one match played so far. The first and only encounter came in February 2024 in Colombo. Afghanistan posted 198 runs in their first innings, with Rahmat Shah shining with a top score of 91, but Sri Lanka responded strongly with a massive 439 all out.

Afghanistan fought back in their second innings, scoring 296, but Sri Lanka’s Prabath Jayasuriya was the star performer, taking 3 wickets in the first innings and 5 wickets in the second, earning him Player of the Match honours. In the chase, Sri Lanka cruised to victory at 56 without loss.

SL vs AFG Test Records

The only Test match between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, played in Colombo in February 2024, may have ended in a one-sided result, but it featured some memorable performances on both sides. Sri Lanka stamped their authority with a first-innings total of 439. Afghanistan’s best reply came in their second innings, where they showed real fight to post 296.

With the bat, Angelo Mathews led from the front for Sri Lanka, scoring a classy 141 that anchored the innings. Afghanistan had a bright spot of their own in Ibrahim Zadran, who notched up an impressive 114, his first Test century, and one that came under pressure against a quality attack. On the bowling side, Prabath Jayasuriya once again proved why he’s so dangerous in home conditions, picking up 5 for 107 in the second innings to wrap up the match for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Head to Head in ODI Cricket

Sri Lanka and Afghanistan have met 15 times in ODI cricket, and while Sri Lanka leads the rivalry with 10 wins to Afghanistan’s 4 (with one no result), the gap between the two teams has been closing over time. Sri Lanka showed their dominance in the most recent series in February 2024, clean-sweeping Afghanistan 3–0, including a commanding 155-run win and a smooth 7-wicket chase. That same series saw Sri Lanka post their highest total in the rivalry, 381 for 3, while Afghanistan also put up a strong fight with a best of 339 for 6.

Individual performances have lit up this fixture: Pathum Nissanka was in incredible form in 2024, scoring 346 runs across three games, while Ibrahim Zadran has been Afghanistan’s most consistent performer, including a brilliant 162 in an earlier clash.

SL vs AFG ODI Records

The Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka Head to Head in ODI might not have the long history of some other cricketing contests, but in just 15 matches, it has produced plenty of standout moments. Sri Lanka's highest team total in this matchup came in February 2024, when they piled on a massive 381/3 at Pallekele, powered by a record-breaking unbeaten 210 by Pathum Nissanka*, the highest individual score in their head-to-head history.

On the other side, both teams have endured batting collapses too; Sri Lanka were bundled out for just 158 in June 2023, while Afghanistan managed only 116 all out in the same match, held in Hambantota. In terms of bowling brilliance, Sri Lanka’s Thisara Perera produced the best figures in the rivalry with 5/55 during a 2018 match in Abu Dhabi, while Mohammad Nabi returned excellent figures of 4/30 for Afghanistan in Cardiff during the 2019 World Cup.

Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Head to Head in T20Is

The Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan head to head in T20I rivalry is still relatively fresh, but it has already delivered some truly exciting contests. Out of the 8 matches played between the two sides, Sri Lanka leads the head-to-head 5–3, though Afghanistan has never made it easy. Their most recent series in early 2024 perfectly showcases this fact.

Sri Lanka took the first two games, edging out a tense 4-run win in the opener and following it up with a convincing 72-run victory in the second. But Afghanistan hit back in style during the third T20I, chasing down a massive target of 209 and snatching a thrilling 3-run win. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, has shown consistency in bigger events, securing key wins in Brisbane (2022) during the T20 World Cup and Sharjah (2022) in the Asia Cup.

SL vs AFG T20I Records

The Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka head to head in T20 have been closely fought. They have gone head-to-head in 8 T20I matches, with Sri Lanka just about coming out on top with 5 wins to Afghanistan’s 3. The highest team scores for both sides came in the same match in Sharjah back in September 2022, Sri Lanka scored 179 for 6, just edging out Afghanistan’s 175 for 6. On the batting front, Tillakaratne Dilshan's unbeaten 83 in 2016 and Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s 84 runs in Sharjah really stood out as game-changing innings. While Rashid Khan, who is also among the best bowlers in the world, has picked up 4 wickets in 4 innings against SL.

AFG vs SL Head to Head in ICC Tournaments

Across the three major ICC tournaments, the ODI World Cup, T20 World Cup, and Champions Trophy, the two teams have clashed only 5 times, with Sri Lanka holding a strong advantage. They've come out on top in 4 of those encounters, while Afghanistan has managed just a solitary win.

In the ODI World Cup, these two teams have clashed three times against each other, where SL has won 2 games while AFG emerged victorious in 1. Afghanistan won the most recent encounter in the 2023 ICC World Cup by 7 wickets, and in the future, they are expected to have better results in this rivalry.

In the T20 World Cup, both teams have played 2 matches, and SL has won both those games. In the Champions Trophy, these two teams haven't contested yet. The AFG vs SL rivalry goes beyond just numbers and stats. As far as the Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan head to head in ICC tournaments is concerned, SL holds a dominating edge, which displays their experience over Afghanistan in crunch situations.

AFG vs SL Head to Head: Player Stats and Records

In the Tests, it was a close contest with the bat, and Rahmat Shah led the way for Afghanistan, scoring 145 runs, just edging out Angelo Mathews, who put up 141 runs for Sri Lanka. With the ball, Prabath Jayasuriya was the pick for the Sri Lankans, grabbing 8 wickets, while Naveed Zadran did a decent job for Afghanistan with 4 wickets. This was the only Test match played between these two sides, and SL ended up winning it by 10 wickets.

Moving to the ODIs, Pathum Nissanka was on another level. He racked up a massive 688 runs, which also included a double century, making him the clear top scorer, while Ibrahim Zadran wasn’t far behind with 569 runs. In the bowling department, Wanindu Hasaranga was lethal, taking 15 wickets, with veteran Mohammad Nabi picking up 13 for Afghanistan.

In the shortest format, the T20Is, it was Rahmanullah Gurbaz who stole the spotlight. His aggressive batting brought him 248 runs, comfortably ahead of Nissanka’s 139. With the ball, Hasaranga continued to impress, claiming 8 wickets, while Nabi was close behind with 7.