# Iran national cricket team

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 and an associate member in 2017.

## History

Cricket 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.
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.

### 2018-Present

In 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.
Iran played their first T20I against UAE on 23 February 2020 during the 2020 ACC Western Region T20.
As of 1 January 2024, Iran is ranked 106th in T20I Rankings by the ICC.
* 23 February 2020 09:30 Scorecard
| Iran 61/8 (20 overs) | v | United Arab Emirates 62/0 (5.3 overs) |
| Yousef Shadzehisarjou 14 (21) Rohan Mustafa 2/6 (4 overs) | | Rohan Mustafa 41* (18) |
* United Arab Emirates won by 10 wickets Al Amerat Cricket Stadium Turf 2, Muscat Umpires: Riyaz Kurupkar (Qat) and Imran Mustafa (Kuw) Player of the match: Rohan Mustafa (UAE)
* United Arab Emirates won the toss and elected to field.
* First ever T20I match for Iran.

## Team colours

Iran's kits vary from year to year; the team have worn kits in green color, at times red kits and also grey kits. 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
### Asia Cup Qualifier

* 2018: Did not participate
* 2020: Did not qualify

### ACC Western Region T20

* 2019: Did not play
* 2020: Group stage

### ACC Trophy Challenge Competitions

| Host/Year | Round/Rank |
| 2004 Trophy | 1st round |
| 2006 Trophy | 1st round |
| 2009 Challenge | 5th place |
| 2010 Challenge | 5th place |
| 2012 Challenge | 5th place |
| 2023 Challenger | Group Stage |

### ACC Middle East Cup

| Host/Year | Round/Rank |
| 2006 | 5th place (out of 5 teams) |

## Head coaches

* Hossein Ali Salimian (2004-05)
* Shahid Aslam (2006)
* Nariman Bakhtiar (2007-08)
* Armond Nahabedian (2009-10)
* Mahmood Rashid Dar (2011-15)

## Records and statistics

International Match Summary — Iran
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

* Highest team total: 108/8 v Kuwait, 25 February 2020 at Al Amerat Cricket Stadium, Muscat
* Highest individual score: 39, Yousef Shadzehisarjou v Kuwait, 25 February 2020 at Al Amerat Cricket Stadium, Muscat
* Best individual bowling figures: 1/10, Nader Zahadiafzal v Saudi Arabia, 24 February 2020 at Al Amerat Cricket Stadium, Muscat
T20I record versus other nations
Records complete to T20I #1061. Last updated 25 February 2020.
| Opponent | M | W | L | T | NR | First match |
| 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

For a list of selected international matches played by Iran, see Cricket Archive.

### Other records
#### Limited-overs records

* Highest team total: 369/6 v China, January 13, 2009 at Gymkhana Club, Chiang Mai
* Lowest team total: 29 v Nepal, June 14, 2004 at Kelab Aman, Kuala Lumpur

#### Highest limited-overs scores for Iran

| Player | Runs | Opposition | Venue | Year |
| Nariman Bakhtiar | 120 | China | Gymkhana Club, Chiang Mai | 2009 |
| Shirmohammad Baloochnezhad | 119 | China | Gymkhana Club, Chiang Mai | 2009 |

#### Most limited-overs runs for Iran

| 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

| Bowler | Figure | Opposition | Venue | Year |
| Abdul Ghafar Bejarzehi | 5/55 | Saudi Arabia | Doha Entertainment City Ground, Kuwait City | 2006 |
| Afshin Tirehdast | 4/10 | China | Royal Chiang Mai Golf Club, Maerim | 2012 |
| Naiem Bameri | 4/12 | China | Terdthai Cricket Ground, Bangkok | 2010 |
| Raez Mehrazar | 4/30 | Bhutan | Kelab Aman, Kuala Lumpur | 2004 |
| Loghman Sheikhi | 4/33 | Brunei | Prem Tinsulanonda International School, Chiang Mai | 2009 |
| Abdolvahab Ebrahimpour | 4/41 | Qatar | Asian Institute of Technology Ground, Bangkok | 2010 |