Afghanistan National Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Timeline – Complete Match History & Head-to-Head Records

The Afghanistan National Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Timeline 2025 showcases one of the most awaited cricketing rivalries of the year. Afghanistan has rapidly grown as a cricketing powerhouse, while South Africa remains one of the most competitive teams globally. Their encounters in 2025 are drawing huge attention as fans eagerly follow every match and timeline update. This article provides a complete match history, head-to-head records, and the 2025 timeline in a detailed table format, making it a must-read for cricket enthusiasts who want to keep track of every moment.

Head-to-Head Records: Afghanistan vs South Africa

The head-to-head record between Afghanistan and South Africa has been historically dominated by South Africa due to their rich cricketing legacy. However, Afghanistan’s rise in recent years, especially in T20 and ODI formats, has made this rivalry more competitive. Below is the overall head-to-head record before and during 2025:

Test Matches: South Africa leads with 3 wins, Afghanistan yet to register a win.
One Day Internationals (ODIs): South Africa leads with 5 wins, Afghanistan 1 win.
Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is): South Africa leads with 4 wins, Afghanistan 2 wins.

Afghanistan National Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Timeline 2025

The table below represents the timeline of all encounters between Afghanistan and South Africa in 2025, including match date, venue, format, result, and key highlights.

Timeline Table

Date	Format	Venue	Winner	Key Highlights
15 Jan 2025	ODI	Centurion, South Africa	South Africa	SA won by 45 runs; Rassie van der Dussen scored 98 runs.
19 Jan 2025	ODI	Johannesburg, South Africa	Afghanistan	Afghanistan won by 3 wickets; Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored 112.
22 Jan 2025	ODI	Cape Town, South Africa	South Africa	SA clinched series 2–1; Kagiso Rabada took 4 wickets.
05 Mar 2025	T20I	Sharjah, UAE	Afghanistan	Afghanistan won by 6 wickets; Rashid Khan starred with 3/18.
07 Mar 2025	T20I	Sharjah, UAE	South Africa	SA won by 8 runs; Aiden Markram hit 73 off 42 balls.
09 Mar 2025	T20I	Sharjah, UAE	Afghanistan	Afghanistan won series 2–1; Naveen-ul-Haq 4/26.
15 Nov 2025	Test	Durban, South Africa	South Africa	SA won by innings & 35 runs; Keshav Maharaj 7 wickets.
23 Nov 2025	Test	Cape Town, South Africa	Draw	Rain washed out Day 4 & Day 5; Ibrahim Zadran scored 152.

Key Highlights of the 2025 Series

Afghanistan’s Historic ODI Win: Afghanistan registered a thrilling 3-wicket win in Johannesburg, marking their first-ever ODI victory against South Africa on South African soil.
T20 Series Triumph: Afghanistan won the T20I series 2–1, showcasing their growing dominance in the shorter format with brilliant performances by Rashid Khan and Naveen-ul-Haq.
Test Series Challenges: South Africa continued their Test dominance, winning the first Test comfortably, while the second ended in a draw due to weather interruptions.

Match History Between Afghanistan and South Africa

Before 2025, Afghanistan and South Africa had limited encounters, mostly in ICC tournaments and bilateral series. South Africa historically had the upper hand, but Afghanistan’s recent performances have narrowed the gap significantly. Key historical moments include:

2019 Cricket World Cup: South Africa defeated Afghanistan comfortably in a group-stage match.
2023 ICC ODI World Cup: Afghanistan almost pulled off an upset but lost narrowly in a thrilling contest.

Future of Afghanistan vs South Africa Rivalry

The rivalry between Afghanistan and South Africa is expected to grow stronger as Afghanistan continues to improve its cricketing structure and talent pool. The 2025 timeline reflects a shift in balance, particularly in the T20 format, where Afghanistan now stands as a formidable opponent.

Final Thoughts

The Afghanistan National Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Timeline 2025 highlights how dynamic modern cricket has become. While South Africa continues to dominate the longer formats, Afghanistan has proven their mettle in the limited-overs arena. With more bilateral series and ICC tournaments scheduled in the coming years, this rivalry promises to offer even more memorable clashes.