The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has unveiled plans to relaunch a franchise-based T20 tournament, announcing the return of the Afghanistan Premier League with a five-team inaugural season scheduled for around October 2026 in the UAE.
This marks a revival of a concept first introduced in 2018, when the ACB staged a single edition of the Afghanistan Premier League featuring five sides and a host of global stars, including Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum and Shahid Afridi. Despite the star power, that tournament was shelved after just one season amid payment delays and concerns over governance and integrity.
The newly announced league, which will carry the same name, is expected to take a more structured approach. Plans are in place for a player draft or auction to be held around June or July 2026, giving franchises time to build squads that blend Afghanistan’s top national players with overseas professionals and emerging domestic talent.
In a statement, the ACB said the tournament would feature five city-based franchises and aims to provide a global stage for Afghan cricket. Board chairman Mirwais Ashraf described the league as a key step in the country’s cricketing evolution.
“The Afghanistan Premier League represents a meaningful step forward in our cricketing journey,” Ashraf said at the launch event in Dubai. “It creates new opportunities for our players, inspires the next generation, and allows Afghanistan cricket to be showcased internationally. We see it as an important contributor to the growth and unity of the game.”
To support the project, the ACB has partnered with Cricket Venture, a joint initiative between Trans Group and ITW Universe. Organisers will now move into the next phase, which includes finalising franchise identities, securing commercial partnerships, and progressing plans for the player recruitment process.
The new franchise league will exist alongside Afghanistan’s established domestic T20 competition, the Shpageeza Cricket League, which continues to be held annually in the July–August window with five domestic teams.
If executed successfully, the revamped Afghanistan Premier League could become a significant platform for Afghan players to gain exposure, experience elite competition, and further integrate Afghanistan cricket into the global T20 ecosystem.
