After years of Afghan cricketers making significant impacts in major T20 tournaments like the IPL, CPL, PSL, ILT20, SA20, and BBL, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is set to launch its own domestic franchise league. The inaugural Afghanistan Premier League (APL) is scheduled to commence on December 27, with the United Arab Emirates serving as the host nation for the first season at ICC-approved venues.
The ACB has granted the operational and promotional rights for the league to Cricket Ventures LLC-FZ, a UAE-based entity working in a joint venture with the MENA subsidiary of ITW Universe. Bhairav Shanth, co-founder of ITW Universe, stated that the objective is to build a professionally managed, internationally visible T20 property that fosters local Afghan talent while providing investors with a decade-long runway.
Three of the five planned franchises have already been sold, with a base price set at USD 1,250,000 for the rights to own and operate a team. Amit Kaushal of the AKCEL Group has acquired the Kabul franchise, branded as Akcel United Kabul. Meanwhile, Pankaj Chadha and Ashish Mehta of the Dubai-based Bullfrog group—who also own the Pokhara Avengers in the Nepal Premier League—have secured the Kandahar Warriors. Additionally, Afghan-American entrepreneur Shakaib Rahimi has purchased the Balkh Zwanan team.
Discussions are currently underway with several billionaire business magnates from the United States and various Indian corporate entities to finalize the remaining two franchises. Available team identities include Herat, Nangarhar, and Paktia. The league organizers have noted that while the inaugural edition is set for the UAE, they maintain the flexibility to host future editions at alternative international locations.
The tournament structure will feature five teams, each playing a minimum of eight group-stage matches. The top-ranked team will qualify directly for the final, while the second and third-placed teams will compete in an eliminator match to determine the second finalist. Each squad will consist of 16 to 18 players, selected through an inaugural draft process.
Playing XI regulations will require a balance of local and international talent, allowing for a maximum of four foreign players and mandating the inclusion of at least one local emerging player among the remaining seven slots. The league has also unveiled the Koh-E-Zafar trophy, which features a mountain motif intended to symbolize the resilience of the Afghan cricket community.
The timeline for the inaugural season is firmly set: player registration opens on August 30, followed by the inaugural draft on September 27. The first ball of the tournament is scheduled for December 27. Between these milestones, the organizers are focused on finalizing the remaining franchises, securing commercial partnerships, and ensuring broadcast quality and fan experiences that meet international standards. The report also notes that it is now time for them to showcase their skills in their own league. The report also notes that but the ACB has kept the option of moving the league to another location in the future open, the inaugural edition will be held in the UAE. The report also notes that the trophy’s mountain motif is not decoration; it is the right metaphor for a cricket nation that has climbed through extraordinary circumstances. The report also notes that players see a real pathway, and brands see a clean, high-attention platform, leagues succeed when owners see a real asset. The report also notes that the APL’s inaugural Edition shall comprise 5 Teams. The report also notes that each Team plays a minimum of 8 group-stage matches. The report also notes that the 2nd vs 3rd league standing Teams to play the Eliminator.
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