The evolution of the Afghanistan cricket team’s jersey reflects not only their remarkable journey from obscurity to international prominence but also the nation’s rich cultural identity and aspirations on the global sporting stage. While detailed chronological records of every single jersey iteration may not be widely documented, a clear progression can be observed in their design philosophy, moving from simpler kits to more intricate and symbolically rich attire.
| PLAYER NAME | JERSEY NO. |
|---|---|
| Najibullah Zadb | 1 |
| NA | 2 |
| NA | 3 |
| Nawroz Manga | 4 |
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | 5 |
| NA | 6 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 7 |
| Rahmat Shah | 8 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 9 |
| NA | 10 |
| NA | 11 |
| Nangeyalia Kharote | 12 |
| NA | 13 |
| Gulbadin Naib | 14 |
| Noor Ahmad | 15 |
| NA | 16 |
| NA | 17 |
| Ibrahim Zadran | 18 |
| Rashid Khan | 19 |
| Abdul Malik | 20 |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | 21 |
| NA | 22 |
| NA | 23 |
| NA | 24 |
| NA | 25 |
| Sediqullah Atal | 26 |
| NA | 27 |
| NA | 28 |
| NA | 29 |
| NA | 30 |
| NA | 31 |
| NA | 32 |
| NA | 33 |
| NA | 34 |
| NA | 35 |
| NA | 36 |
| NA | 37 |
| NA | 38 |
| NA | 39 |
| NA | 40 |
| NA | 41 |
| NA | 42 |
| NA | 43 |
| NA | 44 |
| NA | 45 |
| Ikram Alikhil | 46 |
| NA | 47 |
| NA | 48 |
| NA | 49 |
| Hashmatullah Shahidi | 50 |
| NA | 51 |
| NA | 52 |
| NA | 53 |
| NA | 54 |
| NA | 55 |
| Fareed AhmadNAFareed Ahmad | 56 |
| NA | 57 |
| Naveed Zadran | 58 |
| NA | 59 |
| NA | 60 |
| NA | 61 |
| NA | 62 |
| NA | 63 |
| NA | 64 |
| NA | 65 |
| NA | 66 |
| NA | 67 |
| Bilal Sami | 68 |
| NA | 69 |
| Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar | 70 |
| NA | 71 |
| NA | 72 |
| NA | 73 |
| NA | 74 |
| NA | 75 |
| Riaz Hassan | 76 |
| NA | 77 |
| Naveen-ul-Haq | 78 |
| NA | 79 |
| NA | 80 |
| NA | 81 |
| NA | 82 |
| NA | 83 |
| NA | 84 |
| NA | 85 |
| NA | 86 |
| NA | 87 |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | 88 |
| NA | 89 |
| NA | 90 |
| NA | 91 |
| NA | 92 |
| NA | 93 |
| NA | 94 |
| NA | 95 |
| NA | 96 |
| NA | 97 |
| NA | 98 |
| NA | 99 |
| NA | 100 |
Famous Players and Their Jersey Numbers
Several players have become central to Afghanistan’s success, often recognized by their distinctive jersey numbers:
- Mohammad Nabi (Jersey No. 7): An attacking batting all-rounder and former captain, often nicknamed “The President” or “Mr. President.” He has played for various domestic and T20 franchise teams globally, including Sunrisers Hyderabad, Melbourne Renegades, and Karachi Kings.
- Rashid Khan (Jersey No. 19): A prominent leg-break googly bowler and aggressive right-handed batsman, currently the T20I captain. He has played for numerous T20 franchises worldwide, such as Gujarat Titans, Adelaide Strikers, and Lahore Qalandars. His emergence significantly boosted cricket’s visibility and funding in Afghanistan.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Jersey No. 20)
- Ibrahim Zadran (Jersey No. 17)
- Hashmatullah Shahidi (Jersey No. 49): The current Test and ODI captain.
- Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Jersey No. 87): A key spinner.
- Naveen-ul-Haq (Jersey No. 77): A fast bowler.
- Fazalhaq Farooqi (Jersey No. 5): A fast bowler.
- Riaz Hassan (Jersey No. 75): An opening batsman identified as a promising talent.
- Qais Ahmed (Jersey No. 32): A leg-spinner.
- Naveed Zadran (Jersey No. 57): A pacy right-arm fast bowler, now a regular in Test cricket.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Afghanistan Cricket Team
The team’s rise to ODI status was a “staggering” journey that began in Division Five of the World Cricket League. They won the 2008 ICC World Cricket League Division Five and Division Four tournaments, which propelled them into the 2009 Cricket World Cup Qualifier, where they successfully earned their ODI status.
In recent years, Afghanistan reached the semifinals of the 2024 T20 World Cup. In the 2023 ODI World Cup, they secured significant victories against strong teams like defending champions England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Mohammad Nabi is an attacking batting all-rounder and former captain, often nicknamed “The President.” He played a pivotal role in Afghanistan’s ascent, participating in their first ODI (April 2009), first T20I (February 2010), and inaugural Test match (June 2018). Under his captaincy, Afghanistan also achieved their first win against a Test nation in a major international ODI tournament (defeating Bangladesh in the 2014 Asia Cup) and their first-ever win over Pakistan in any international cricket format (March 2023).
Individual players have set numerous records. Mohammad Nabi holds the record for the fastest T20I fifty by an Afghan, was the first Afghan bowler to take 100 ODI wickets, and the first Afghan cricketer to play 100 ODI matches. Rashid Khan became the youngest player to top ICC Player Rankings for bowlers in both ODIs and T20Is, the youngest to captain an international side in an ODI and a Test match, and is the fastest and youngest bowler to take 100 ODI wickets. He also has the best bowling performance by an Afghan in a T20I (5 wickets for 3 runs against Ireland).
Besides Mohammad Nabi (No. 7) and Rashid Khan (No. 19), other famous players include Rahmanullah Gurbaz (No. 20), Ibrahim Zadran (No. 17), Hashmatullah Shahidi (No. 49 – current Test and ODI captain), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (No. 87), Naveen-ul-Haq (No. 77), Fazalhaq Farooqi (No. 5), Riaz Hassan (No. 75), Qais Ahmed (No. 32), and Naveed Zadran (No. 57).
Key external factors include the support of individuals like Andrew James Moles (Andy Moles), credited with developing Afghanistan’s “first ever golden generation” from the U19 side. India’s contributions, such as funding and building cricket stadiums, along with the inspiring influence of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on young Afghan players, have been major contributors. Pakistan also played an early role in developing Afghan players through its domestic cricket structure and in establishing the cricket association.
Based on the provided information, there is no explicit statement indicating that the Afghanistan Cricket Board officially retires jersey numbers in honor of specific players. While many numbers may be currently unassigned (“NA”), this does not necessarily imply official retirement as a tribute, unlike practices seen in some other cricketing nations.
According to ICC regulations, player names and numbers (1–99) must be clearly legible and positioned on the center back of the playing shirt, permanently affixed. Player names must be above the number, and neither can contain advertising. Small numbers (not more than 2 cm) are permitted on sweaters and caps below the national logo, indicating selection order, caps earned, or landmark achievements. Player initials (not exceeding 2 cm) may be displayed on the chest or sleeve of long-sleeved items. Non-compliance can lead to disciplinary action, including fines or suspensions.