After years of making their mark in T20 leagues across the world, Afghanistan’s cricketers are finally set to have a franchise competition of their own. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is preparing to relaunch the Afghanistan Premier League (APL), with the inaugural edition scheduled to begin on December 27, 2026, in the United Arab Emirates.
The tournament is being positioned as a major step in the development of Afghan cricket, giving domestic players a professional platform while creating a commercially viable T20 league with international ambitions.
The first edition will feature five franchises, although three owners have already been confirmed. The ACB has left the door open for the tournament to be hosted outside the UAE in future editions.
APL 2026 to Be Hosted in the UAE
The inaugural season of the Afghanistan Premier League will be played at ICC-approved venues in the United Arab Emirates.
The ACB has, however, deliberately kept future hosting arrangements flexible. Subsequent editions could be moved to alternative venues outside the UAE depending on the league’s requirements.
For the first season, the UAE provides an established cricketing environment with international-standard venues and infrastructure. It has also hosted numerous international and franchise tournaments, making it a practical location for the APL’s relaunch.
The tournament will begin on December 27, with the organisers now working towards completing the franchise structure, player draft and commercial arrangements before the opening match.
Three Franchise Owners Confirmed
Three franchises have already been secured, with two of the owners having Indian business connections.
Amit Kaushal, founder and chairman of AKCEL Group, has acquired the Kabul franchise, which will be known as Akcel United Kabul.
The Kandahar franchise, Kandahar Warriors, has been purchased by Pankaj Chadha and Ashish Mehta of Dubai-based business group Bullfrog. The group already has experience in franchise cricket through its ownership of the Pokhara Avengers in the Nepal Premier League.
The third franchise has been acquired by Shakaib Rahimi, an Afghan-American entrepreneur and long-time supporter of Afghan cricket. His team will represent Balkh and is named Balkh Zwanan.
The involvement of investors with experience in franchise cricket could provide the new league with valuable commercial and operational expertise.
Two More Franchises Still Available
Although five teams will compete in the inaugural season, only three owners have been announced so far.
The ACB is continuing discussions with potential investors for the remaining two franchises. According to the information released by the league, discussions are taking place with business magnates from the United States as well as Indian corporate groups.
Several franchise identities are available for investors, including Kabul, Kandahar, Herat, Balkh, Nangarhar and Paktia.
The base price for the right to own and operate an APL franchise has been set at USD 1.25 million.
With two franchises still to be finalised, completing the ownership structure will be one of the league’s immediate priorities.
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APL Designed to Develop Afghan Talent
The APL is not being presented simply as another T20 entertainment product. One of its central objectives is to create a professional pathway for Afghan cricketers.
Over the past decade, Afghan players have become increasingly prominent in international franchise cricket. Players from the country have featured in competitions such as the Indian Premier League, Caribbean Premier League, Pakistan Super League, ILT20, SA20 and Big Bash League.
The experience gained by Afghan players overseas has helped raise the country’s profile in T20 cricket.
The APL now aims to bring some of that experience closer to home by creating a domestic competition where emerging Afghan players can compete alongside established professionals.
For young cricketers, regular exposure to high-level T20 cricket could provide an important route towards the national team and international franchise opportunities.
APL Rights Awarded to Cricket Ventures LLC-FZ
The ACB has granted the league rights to Cricket Ventures LLC-FZ, a UAE-based company that has partnered with the MENA subsidiary of ITW Universe to operate and promote the competition.
The organisers have outlined an ambitious long-term vision for the APL, focusing on professional management, international visibility, talent development and commercial growth.
ITW Universe co-founder Bhairav Shanth said the objective was to rebuild the APL into a professionally operated T20 property that could provide Afghan players with a meaningful pathway while offering investors a long-term commercial opportunity.
According to Shanth, the immediate priorities include finalising the remaining franchises, securing commercial partners, ensuring strong broadcast production and creating an engaging experience for fans.
APL 2026 Player Draft on September 27
One of the biggest milestones ahead of the inaugural season will be the player draft.
The APL player registration portal will open on August 30, allowing players to enter the recruitment process. The inaugural draft is scheduled for September 27.
The draft will determine the initial squads for the five franchises and will be crucial to establishing the competitive balance of the tournament.
Each team will have a squad of between 16 and 18 players.
The league’s draft-based recruitment model is expected to give franchises an opportunity to build balanced squads while ensuring that Afghan players receive opportunities alongside overseas talent.
Foreign Player Rule for APL Teams
The APL will also have specific regulations governing the composition of playing XIs.
A team can field a maximum of four foreign players in its XI. The remaining seven positions must include Afghan players, with one of those players required to be a local emerging cricketer.
The regulation is particularly important from a development perspective.
While international players can bring experience and quality to the competition, limiting the number of overseas players ensures that Afghan cricketers remain central to the league.
The emerging-player requirement could also create opportunities for younger players who are still establishing themselves in professional cricket.
How the APL Tournament Will Work
The inaugural APL season will use a league-stage format followed by a knockout phase.
Each of the five teams will play a minimum of eight group-stage matches.
At the end of the group stage, the team finishing first will qualify directly for the final.
The teams finishing second and third will meet in an Eliminator, with the winner advancing to the final.
This format gives the league a relatively compact structure while rewarding the strongest team during the group stage with direct qualification for the title match.
With five franchises and a minimum of eight games per team, the tournament will provide every side with a meaningful number of competitive fixtures.
Koh-E-Zafar Trophy Adds Afghan Identity
The league has also unveiled its trophy, named the Koh-E-Zafar.
The design draws inspiration from Afghanistan’s mountain ranges and is intended to represent strength, resilience and achievement.
The symbolism fits the story the APL is attempting to tell about Afghan cricket. The country’s national team has risen rapidly despite facing considerable challenges, establishing itself as a competitive force in international cricket.
The trophy’s mountain-inspired design is therefore intended to represent both the country’s identity and the journey of its cricketers.
A New Opportunity for Afghan Cricket
The return of the Afghanistan Premier League could have a significant impact on the country’s domestic cricket ecosystem.
Afghanistan already possesses a strong group of international players, particularly in T20 cricket. However, the creation of a dedicated franchise league can help expand the talent pool by giving more domestic players regular exposure to professional competition.
The league could also create opportunities for coaches, support staff, broadcasters, administrators and commercial partners.
If successfully executed, the APL could become an important part of Afghanistan’s sporting economy while strengthening the country’s position within global franchise cricket.
APL 2026: Key Details
The essential details of the inaugural Afghanistan Premier League are:
- Start date: December 27, 2026
- Host country: United Arab Emirates
- Number of teams: Five
- Squad size: 16-18 players per team
- Franchise base price: USD 1.25 million
- Player registration: August 30
- Inaugural draft: September 27
- Group-stage matches: Minimum eight per team
- Foreign players in XI: Maximum four
- Emerging local player: Mandatory
- Top-ranked team: Direct qualification for the final
- Second vs third: Eliminator
- Trophy: Koh-E-Zafar
Can the APL Become a Major T20 League?
The success of the Afghanistan Premier League will depend on several factors.
Attracting competitive franchise owners is the first challenge. The organisers still need to complete the ownership structure by securing two additional teams.
The player draft will then determine the quality and balance of the squads. Attracting recognised overseas players could increase the league’s visibility, while retaining a strong focus on Afghan talent will be essential to its long-term purpose.
Broadcasting and commercial partnerships will also be crucial. A professional production standard and strong digital presence could help the APL reach audiences beyond Afghanistan.
The UAE provides a practical starting point, but the ACB’s willingness to consider other venues in future suggests that the league’s long-term geographical identity has yet to be determined.
Afghanistan’s T20 Moment Has Arrived
For years, Afghan cricketers have travelled around the world to compete in franchise leagues. They have played alongside some of the biggest names in T20 cricket and have become valuable players in competitions across multiple countries.
Now, the APL is attempting to bring that experience together under one tournament.
With the first season scheduled for December 27, three franchises already confirmed, two more ownership slots available and the player draft approaching, the foundations of the new league are beginning to take shape.
The biggest challenge will be turning the ambitious plans into a professionally run competition capable of attracting players, fans, broadcasters and investors.
If the ACB and its commercial partners can deliver on those promises, the Afghanistan Premier League could become much more than a domestic T20 tournament. It could provide the next generation of Afghan cricketers with the platform they need to follow in the footsteps of the country’s established international stars.
The APL is finally ready to give Afghanistan’s T20 talent a league of its own, and the first ball is scheduled to be bowled on December 27, 2026.