Afghanistan's border with the Test playing nation of Pakistan has helped the game to take root.

Pakistan's former batsman Inzamam ul Haq has coached the Afghan national team in the past.

Afghanistan became a full member of the International Cricket Council on 22 June 2017, enabling the national team to participate in official Test matches.

[2] In February 2017, the International Cricket Council (ICC) awarded first-class status to Afghanistan's four-day domestic competition.

[4][5] In May 2017 however, the ICC recognised the 50-over Ghazi Amanullah Khan Regional One Day Tournament by granting it List A status.

[7] The Afghanistan national cricket team's 21-run win over Namibia in Krugersdorp earned them official One Day International status in April 2009.

[10] Afghanistan's 21-run win over Namibia in Krugersdorp earned them official One Day International status.

[11] Although the team is yet to play representative cricket, it had been scheduled to take part in the 2011 ACC Women’s Twenty20 in Kuwait, which ran from 17 – 25 February.

The Afghanistan national cricket team has also provided some of the greatest players to the world, the biggest example of which is Rashid Khan.

The aim of the tournament was to spread the game across the country and to generate a greater depth of talent for the national team to select from.

[16][18] The UAE-based telecommunications company, Etisalat is now one of the main sponsors of Afghanistan's cricket, including being then title sponsor in Afghanistan's division 2 inter-provincinal challenge cup and the Etisalat Sixes T20 Tournament.

Starting from the 2017 season, Afghanistan has a four-day first-class competition (Ahmad Shah Abdali 4-day Tournament), a 50-over List A competition (Ghazi Amanullah Khan Regional One Day Tournament) and a recognized Twenty20 league (Shpageeza Cricket League).

[20] In March 2024, the ACB launched a new T20 cricket competition named Qosh Tepa National T20 Cup involving regional teams, with the first edition taking place in April 2024.