The Iran national cricket team (Persian: تیم ملی کریکت ایران) is a cricket team representing Iran in international cricket. They became an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2003[4] and an associate member in 2017.[1]
 | ||||||||||
| Association | Islamic Republic of Iran Cricket Association | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Cricket Council | ||||||||||
| ICC status | Associate member[1] (2017) | |||||||||
| ICC region | Asia | |||||||||
| International cricket | ||||||||||
| First international | 13 June 2004 v  Bhutan at Kelab Aman, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | |||||||||
| Twenty20 Internationals | ||||||||||
| First T20I | v  United Arab Emirates at Al Amerat Cricket Stadium Turf 2, Muscat; 23 February 2020 | |||||||||
| Last T20I | v  Kuwait at Al Amerat Cricket Stadium Turf 2, Muscat; 25 February 2020 | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| As of 1 January 2024 | ||||||||||
History
editCricket was introduced in Iran in the 1920s and 1930s by the British who were working in the oil industry but it ceased when the oil industry was nationalised in 1951. Cricket was reintroduced in the early 1990s by Iranians who had studied abroad. Iran joined the Asian Cricket Council in 2003. Iran's men's cricket league was established in 2014 with eight teams as participants and Chah Bahar became the first winners. In the same year, women's cricket league was also established which was won by Mashhad.[citation needed]
Following their admission to the International Cricket Council, they made their international debut at the 2004 ACC Trophy, and played in the tournament again in the 2006 tournament. On both occasions, they failed to progress beyond the first round. With the separation of the ACC Trophy into Elite and Challenge divisions, following their performance at the 2006 ACC Trophy Iran have since competed in the Challenge divisions in both 2009 and in the 2010 competition, finishing in the firth place on both occasions.[citation needed]
2018-Present
editIn April 2018, the ICC decided to grant full Twenty20 International (T20I) status to all its members. Therefore, all Twenty20 matches played between Iran and other ICC members after 1 January 2019 will be a full T20I.[5]
Iran played their first T20I against UAE on 23 February 2020 during the 2020 ACC Western Region T20.[6]
As of 1 January 2024, Iran is ranked 106th in T20I Rankings by the ICC.[7]
v | ||
Yousef Shadzehisarjou 14 (21) Rohan Mustafa 2/6 (4 overs) | Rohan Mustafa 41* (18) |
- United Arab Emirates won the toss and elected to field.
- First ever T20I match for Iran.
Team colours
editIran's kits vary from year to year; the team have worn kits in green color,[8] at times red kits[9] and also grey kits.[10]The kits always have 'Iran' written on the front of the jersey; usually Iran's cricket logo and at times sponsor logos also appear.
Tournament history
editAsia Cup Qualifier
editACC Western Region T20
editACC Trophy Challenge Competitions
edit| Host/Year | Round/Rank |
|---|---|
 2004 Trophy | 1st round |
| 2006 Trophy | 1st round |
 2009 Challenge | 5th place |
| 2010 Challenge | 5th place |
| 2012 Challenge | 5th place[11] |
| 2023 Challenger | Group Stage |
ACC Middle East Cup
edit| Host/Year | Round/Rank |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 5th place (out of 5 teams)[12][13] |
Head coaches
edit
Records and statistics
editInternational Match Summary — Iran[18]
Last updated 25 February 2020
| Playing Record | ||||||
| Format | M | W | L | T | NR | Inaugural Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twenty20 Internationals | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 23 February 2020 |
Twenty20 International
edit- Highest team total: 108/8 v Kuwait, 25 February 2020 at Al Amerat Cricket Stadium, Muscat[19]
- Highest individual score: 39, Yousef Shadzehisarjou v Kuwait, 25 February 2020 at Al Amerat Cricket Stadium, Muscat[20]
- Best individual bowling figures: 1/10, Nader Zahadiafzal v Saudi Arabia, 24 February 2020 at Al Amerat Cricket Stadium, Muscat[21]
T20I record versus other nations[18]
Records complete to T20I #1061. Last updated 25 February 2020.
| Opponent | M | W | L | T | NR | First match | First win |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| vs Associate Members | |||||||
| Kuwait | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 25 February 2020 | |
 Saudi Arabia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 24 February 2020 | |
| United Arab Emirates | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 23 February 2020 | |
Other matches
editFor a list of selected international matches played by Iran, see Cricket Archive.
Other records
editLimited-overs records
edit- Highest team total: 369/6 v China, January 13, 2009 at Gymkhana Club, Chiang Mai[22]
- Lowest team total: 29 v Nepal, June 14, 2004 at Kelab Aman, Kuala Lumpur[23]
Highest limited-overs scores for Iran
edit| Player | Runs | Opposition | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nariman Bakhtiar | 120 |  China | Gymkhana Club, Chiang Mai | 2009[22] |
| Shirmohammad Baloochnezhad | 119 | China | Gymkhana Club, Chiang Mai | 2009 |
Most limited-overs runs for Iran
edit| Player | Runs | Total matches | Career span |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shirmohammad Baloochnezhad | 420 | 14 | 2006-2012 |
| Nariman Bakhtiar | 408 | 10 | 2006-2009 |
Best bowling figures in an innings for Iran
edit| Bowler | Figure | Opposition | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abdul Ghafar Bejarzehi | 5/55 | Saudi Arabia | Doha Entertainment City Ground, Kuwait City | 2006[24] |
| Afshin Tirehdast | 4/10 | China | Royal Chiang Mai Golf Club, Maerim | 2012[25] |
| Naiem Bameri | 4/12 | China | Terdthai Cricket Ground, Bangkok | 2010[26] |
| Raez Mehrazar | 4/30 | Bhutan | Kelab Aman, Kuala Lumpur | 2004[27] |
| Loghman Sheikhi | 4/33 |  Brunei | Prem Tinsulanonda International School, Chiang Mai | 2009[28] |
| Abdolvahab Ebrahimpour | 4/41 |  Qatar | Asian Institute of Technology Ground, Bangkok | 2010[29] |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Ireland and Afghanistan ICC newest full members amid wide-ranging governance reform". International Cricket Council. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ "T20I matches - Team records". ESPNcricinfo.
- ^ "T20I matches - 2024 Team records". ESPNcricinfo.
- ^ "CricketArchive – Iran page". CricketArchive. 10 December 2010. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
- ^ "All T20 matches between ICC members to get international status". International Cricket Council. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ "UAE batter Iran to record lowest score in a completed T20I innings". The National. 23 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ Mofidi-Neyestanak, Mohsen (20 February 2023). "First report of scaly cricket Arachnocephalus vestidos Costa, 1855 (Orth., Mogoplistidae) from Iran". Journal of Entomological Society of Iran. 42 (4): 325–329. doi:10.52547/jesi.42.4.7. ISSN 2783-3968.
- ^ https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRekJvf5ZCnYCrTqkZ5XonVoT2dL8d8g6ztm-BR72N4pbQeh97PSg [bare URL image file]
- ^ http://www.asiancricket.org/images/u16c_2010/day8_1528a.jpg [bare URL image file]
- ^ "ACC Trophy Challenge 2009 - IRAN".
- ^ "ACC Trophy Challenge 2012".
- ^ "ACC Middle East Cup 2006 - Results".
- ^ "The Home of CricketArchive".
- ^ "Cricket in Iran".
- ^ "Iran's first appearance in Asian cricket competitions was short-lived".
- ^ "National Team".
- ^ http://hamazoor.ir/persian/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1437&Itemid=1329
- ^ a b "Records / Iran / Twenty20 Internationals / Result summary". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "Records / Iran / Twenty20 Internationals / Highest totals". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- ^ "Records / Iran / Twenty20 Internationals / High scores". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- ^ "Records / Iran / Twenty20 Internationals / Best bowling figures". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- ^ a b "The Home of CricketArchive".
- ^ "The Home of CricketArchive".
- ^ "The Home of CricketArchive".
- ^ "The Home of CricketArchive".
- ^ "The Home of CricketArchive".
- ^ "The Home of CricketArchive".
- ^ "The Home of CricketArchive".
- ^ "The Home of CricketArchive".
