Sri Lanka and Afghanistan have developed an interesting rivalry in T20 International cricket. Although Afghanistan entered international cricket much later than Sri Lanka, the two teams have produced several close and entertaining matches in the shortest format. Their T20I meetings have included narrow victories, high-scoring contests and strong bowling performances. Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Head-to-Head in T20
As of September 2026, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan have played 9 men’s T20I matches against each other. Sri Lanka have won 6 matches, while Afghanistan have won 3. There have been no tied matches or no-results in their completed T20I meetings.
The most recent completed T20I between the sides was played on 18 September 2025, when Sri Lanka defeated Afghanistan by six wickets after chasing 170.
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan T20I Head-to-Head Record
| Category | Sri Lanka | Afghanistan |
|---|---|---|
| T20I Matches | 9 | 9 |
| Wins | 6 | 3 |
| Losses | 3 | 6 |
| Ties | 0 | 0 |
| No Results | 0 | 0 |
| Win Percentage | 66.67% | 33.33% |
Sri Lanka currently hold the better head-to-head record, winning two-thirds of their completed T20I meetings with Afghanistan. Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Head-to-Head in T20
First T20I Meeting
The first recorded T20I between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka took place on 17 March 2016 in Kolkata. Sri Lanka won the match by six wickets. This meeting came during the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 and marked the beginning of the teams’ T20I head-to-head record.
Sri Lanka’s early success established a pattern in which their experience in international limited-overs cricket played an important role. Afghanistan, however, continued to develop rapidly and subsequently recorded several victories over Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s Record Against Afghanistan
Sri Lanka have won 6 of the 9 T20Is between the two sides. Their victories have come through a combination of successful run chases and effective bowling performances.
One of Sri Lanka’s notable victories came during the 2024 T20I series. In the second match of that series, Sri Lanka bowled Afghanistan out for 115 before reaching 187/6, winning by 72 runs.
Sri Lanka also won the first match of the 2024 series by four runs. They successfully defended a total of 160 after Afghanistan finished on 156/9.
Another important victory came in September 2025. Afghanistan scored 169/8, but Sri Lanka chased the target successfully, reaching 171/4 and winning by six wickets.
Afghanistan’s Record Against Sri Lanka
Afghanistan have won 3 of their 9 T20I meetings with Sri Lanka. Their victories demonstrate their ability to compete closely with an established international side.
One of Afghanistan’s most memorable results came in the third T20I of the 2024 series. Afghanistan scored 209/5, their highest team total against Sri Lanka in T20Is. Sri Lanka responded with 206/6, but Afghanistan held on for a narrow 3-run victory.
Afghanistan also defeated Sri Lanka by eight runs in the 2023 Asian Games quarter-final, when Afghanistan scored 116 and restricted Sri Lanka to 108.
These results show that the rivalry has not been one-sided despite Sri Lanka’s overall advantage.
Highest Team Scores
Both teams have produced high totals in this matchup.
Afghanistan’s highest T20I score against Sri Lanka is 209/5, achieved in Dambulla during the 2024 series. Sri Lanka’s highest score against Afghanistan is 206/6, recorded in the same match.
These figures demonstrate the potential for high-scoring cricket whenever both batting line-ups perform well.
Highest T20I Team Totals
| Team | Highest Score | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 209/5 | Afghanistan won by 3 runs |
| Sri Lanka | 206/6 | Afghanistan won by 3 runs |
Lowest Team Scores
Afghanistan’s lowest completed innings against Sri Lanka in their T20I meetings is 115 all out, recorded during the second T20I in February 2024. Sri Lanka went on to score 187/6 and won by 72 runs.
Sri Lanka’s lowest completed total in the fixture is 105, according to the available T20I head-to-head records.
This contrast illustrates how dramatically conditions and performances can change between matches in T20 cricket.
Recent Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan T20I Results
The recent meetings between these teams have been competitive:
| Date | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Sep 2025 | Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets |
| 21 Feb 2024 | Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka | Afghanistan won by 3 runs |
| 19 Feb 2024 | Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka won by 72 runs |
| 17 Feb 2024 | Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka won by 4 runs |
| 4 Oct 2023 | Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka | Afghanistan won by 8 runs |
| 1 Nov 2022 | Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets |
| 3 Sep 2022 | Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka won by 4 wickets |
| 27 Aug 2022 | Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka | Afghanistan won by 8 wickets |
| 17 Mar 2016 | Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets |
The available records show six Sri Lankan wins and three Afghanistan wins across these nine completed T20Is.
Memorable Matches in the Rivalry
Afghanistan’s Three-Run Victory in 2024
The third T20I in Dambulla on 21 February 2024 was one of the closest matches between the teams. Afghanistan posted 209/5, with Sri Lanka responding with 206/6. Afghanistan won by only three runs.
The match highlighted Afghanistan’s attacking batting and their ability to defend a large total against Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s 72-Run Victory in 2024
Just two days earlier, Sri Lanka produced a much more comfortable performance. They scored 187/6 and bowled Afghanistan out for 115, winning by 72 runs.
The result demonstrated the importance of bowling depth in T20 cricket, particularly when a team can restrict the opposition during the middle and final overs.
Sri Lanka’s Six-Wicket Win in 2025
The latest completed T20I between the teams took place on 18 September 2025. Afghanistan made 169/8, but Sri Lanka successfully chased the target with 171/4 to win by six wickets.
That result gave Sri Lanka their sixth victory in nine meetings.
Key Players and Match-Winning Performances
The Sri Lanka-Afghanistan rivalry has featured several important players from both sides.
For Afghanistan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz has produced a notable individual performance in this fixture, scoring 84, the highest recorded individual T20I innings by an Afghanistan batter against Sri Lanka in the available records.
Afghanistan have also benefited from the power hitting of experienced all-rounders such as Mohammad Nabi. In the available head-to-head records, Nabi recorded a strike rate of 272.73 for a qualifying innings of at least 20 runs against Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have repeatedly relied on their experienced batting and bowling units to control matches against Afghanistan. Their six victories show their ability to adapt to different conditions and match situations.
Head-to-Head Summary
The overall T20I record gives Sri Lanka a clear statistical advantage:
- Matches: 9
- Sri Lanka wins: 6
- Afghanistan wins: 3
- Ties: 0
- No results: 0
- Sri Lanka win percentage: 66.67%
- Afghanistan win percentage: 33.33%
- Afghanistan’s highest total: 209/5
- Sri Lanka’s highest total: 206/6
- Afghanistan’s lowest total: 115
- Sri Lanka’s lowest total: 105
- Latest completed meeting: 18 September 2025
- Latest result: Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets
Conclusion
Sri Lanka have the stronger overall head-to-head record against Afghanistan in T20 International cricket, with six wins from nine completed matches. Afghanistan have won three times, including a memorable three-run victory in the high-scoring 2024 encounter.
Despite Sri Lanka’s statistical advantage, the matches have produced several close contests. Afghanistan’s 209/5 and Sri Lanka’s 206/6 in the same 2024 match underline the batting potential of both sides, while several other encounters have been decided by relatively small margins.
The rivalry remains an interesting matchup in T20 cricket because Sri Lanka bring considerable international experience, while Afghanistan have established themselves as a competitive T20 side with strong batting power and quality spin bowling.
5 Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many T20Is have Sri Lanka and Afghanistan played?
Sri Lanka and Afghanistan have played 9 completed men’s T20I matches against each other.
2. Who has won more T20Is between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan?
Sri Lanka have won 6 matches, while Afghanistan have won 3. There have been no ties or no-results in their completed meetings.
3. What is Afghanistan’s highest T20I score against Sri Lanka?
Afghanistan’s highest T20I total against Sri Lanka is 209/5, scored in Dambulla in February 2024. Afghanistan won that match by three runs.
4. What is Sri Lanka’s highest T20I score against Afghanistan?
Sri Lanka’s highest score against Afghanistan is 206/6, recorded during the third T20I in Dambulla in February 2024. Afghanistan won the match by three runs.
5. When was the last Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan T20I?
The most recent completed T20I between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan was played on 18 September 2025. Sri Lanka scored 171/4 after Afghanistan made 169/8 and won by six wickets.