Their rise in international cricket has been nothing short of extraordinary. From playing their first ODI in 2009, the Asian underdogs have transformed into one of the most thrilling teams in world cricket.
Renowned for their exceptional spin attack, Afghanistan has also made significant strides in their batting department. In this article, we will explore the top five highest individual scores by Afghan batsmen in ODI cricket.
5. Rahmanullah Gurbaz – 145 vs Bangladesh, 2023, Chattogram
Rahmanullah Gurbaz has emerged as one of Afghanistan’s rising stars in limited-overs cricket. He showcased his explosive batting in the second ODI of Afghanistan’s 2023 tour of Bangladesh.
Batting first, the wicketkeeper-batter smashed 145 off 127 balls, including 13 fours and eight sixes. His incredible knock was complemented by Ibrahim Zadran, who also scored a century. Together, they stitched a 256-run opening partnership, powering Afghanistan to 331 runs. Afghanistan secured a commanding 142-run victory.
4. Azmatullah Omarzai – 149 vs Sri Lanka, 2024, Pallekele*
Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai played a sensational unbeaten knock of 149 runs against Sri Lanka in Pallekele in 2024.
Chasing a mammoth target of 381, Omarzai lit up the crowd with his 149 off 115 balls, smashing 13 fours and six sixes. He shared a remarkable 242-run partnership with Mohammad Nabi for the sixth wicket.
Despite his brilliance, Afghanistan fell short as Sri Lanka clinched victory by 42 runs.
3. Rahmanullah Gurbaz – 151 vs Pakistan, 2023, Hambantota
Rahmanullah Gurbaz continued his outstanding ODI form with a breathtaking 151-run knock against Pakistan in Hambantota in 2023.
Anchoring the innings, Gurbaz played a composed yet aggressive 151 off 151 balls, helping Afghanistan post a competitive total of 300/5. Ibrahim Zadran provided crucial support with 80 runs, setting the platform for a big score.
However, despite Gurbaz’s heroics, Pakistan edged out Afghanistan in a thrilling one-wicket win.
2. Ibrahim Zadran – 162 vs Sri Lanka, 2022, Pallekele
Opening the innings, he dominated the Sri Lankan bowling attack, scoring 162 off 138 balls, which included 15 fours and four sixes. He built a crucial 154-run partnership with Najibullah Zadran, guiding Afghanistan to a strong total of 313/8.
However, Sri Lanka chased down the target, winning the match by four wickets.
1. Ibrahim Zadran – 177 vs England, 2025, Lahore
Ibrahim Zadran holds the record for the highest individual score by an Afghanistan batter in ODIs, thanks to his sensational 177-run knock against England in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Lahore.
After Afghanistan lost three early wickets for just 37 runs, Zadran took charge, scoring 177 off 146 balls with 12 fours and six sixes. He shared a crucial 111-run stand with Mohammad Nabi, helping Afghanistan recover and post a competitive total of 325.
He received vital contributions from Hashmatullah Shahidi, Mohammad Nabi, and Azmatullah Omarzai, who all scored over 40 runs, making it a memorable innings in Afghanistan’s cricket history.