Stanikzai made his Twenty20 International debut against Ireland in the 2010 Quadrangular Twenty20 Series in Sri Lanka Later on in February 2010, played a single match in Afghanistan's victorious 2010 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier playing in the final against Ireland. Stanikzai was later named in Afghanistan's squad for the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 .In April 2010, Stanikzai was a key member of Afghanistan's 2010 ACC Trophy Elite winning squad which defeated Nepal in the final. Stanikzai ended the tournament as the third leading run scorer with 253 runs, including a score of 151 runs from 83 balls against Bhutan.
