Afghanistan’s national cricket team returned to Kabul on Tuesday morning after sealing a historic ODI series win against South Africa.
Afghanistan sealed the series 2-1, making it the first time in history the team has not only secured a series win against South Africa – in any format – but it was also their first-ever series win over a top five ICC-ranked side.
The team claimed matches one and two in convincing fashion to take the Sharjah series bragging rights, winning the matches by six wickets (and with 144 balls to spare) and 177 runs respectively, bowling out the Proteas for scores of 106 and 134.
South Africa would go on to claim the third match in consolation, chasing down a target of just 170.
The Afghans are ninth on the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings, with a rating of 82, fractionally behind Bangladesh (86).
Afghanistan meet South Africa again in their Champions Trophy group, alongside Australia and England from mid-February.