The Afghanistan Premier League is a new franchise-based Twenty20 league that the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced will begin play in the United Arab Emirates in October 2026. Five teams will compete in the competition, and a draft of foreign players is anticipated in June or July of 2026.
When a single season with five franchises was staged later that year in 2018, the ACB had already launched a league with the same name. Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum, and Shahid Afridi were among the international celebrities that attended that edition. However, due to concerns about governance and ethics as well as claims of payment delays, the competition was cancelled following its inaugural season.
With better management and financial protections, the redesigned league is being marketed as a new beginning. The Afghanistan Premier League is expected to boost the game and provide Afghan players more visibility, according to ACB.
According to a press release from the ACB, which ESPNcricinfo cited, “the first season will feature five city-based franchises, bringing together Afghanistan’s leading national players alongside prominent overseas professionals and emerging local talent.”
“In our cricketing career, the Afghanistan Premier League is a significant advancement.
It gives our players fresh chances, motivates the next generation, and makes Afghan cricket visible on a worldwide scale. At the introduction in Dubai, ACB chairman Mirwais Ashraf stated, “We see the APL as an important contributor to the growth and unity of the game, both domestically and internationally.”
To oversee and run the new competition, the ACB has teamed up with Cricket Venture, a joint venture between Trans Group and ITW Universe. Afghanistan will continue to host the Shpageeza Cricket League, a domestic Twenty20 competition that takes place every year in the July–August timeframe and features five local teams.
“Following the launch, organisers will move into the next phase, which includes finalising franchise identities, confirming commercial partners, and progressing the player auction or draft process,” stated the announcement.
Home