Afghanistan Premier League Set for December Return as Indian Parties Eye Franchises

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is optimistic about reviving the Afghanistan Premier League (APL), with five parties reportedly interested in acquiring the two remaining franchise slots ahead of the proposed December 27 start.

The T20 tournament was first held in 2018 but did not return for a second edition after the ACB withdrew its sanction. The board is now working to relaunch the competition, with potential franchise owners from Afghanistan, India and other markets showing interest.

The ACB has shortlisted three franchise owners and is looking to stage the tournament in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), while keeping open the possibility of hosting future editions at other venues.

ACB chief executive Naseeb Khan said the board remained committed to bringing back the league but was taking a cautious approach to selecting its commercial partners and franchisees.

“The Afghanistan Cricket Board remains fully committed to delivering the APL as planned. As everyone is aware, the league is being revived after a considerable period, and we have therefore taken a careful and strategic approach to selecting our commercial partner and franchisees,” Naseeb said, as quoted by Cricbuzz.

He said the ACB and its commercial partner were in discussions with interested parties to finalise the remaining two franchise agreements.

According to Naseeb, the board's priority was to secure credible, financially capable and experienced partners who could contribute to the league's long-term sustainability rather than fill the vacant slots in haste.

The inaugural edition featured five teams — Balkh Legends, Kabul Zwanan, Kandahar Knights, Nangarhar Leopards and Paktia Panthers — with Balkh Legends emerging as champions.

Naseeb confirmed that the revived APL would feature five teams this year, with the player draft scheduled for the last week of October and the tournament set to begin on December 27, 2026.

He said the response from players had been encouraging, with around 1,500 registrations, including several prominent international cricketers.

A dedicated committee is screening and assessing the registered players according to the approved eligibility criteria. A pool of Afghan coaches has also been assembled and is expected to be presented for the draft, while the remaining coaching staff and team captains will be selected based on the requirements of individual franchises.

The ACB is also hopeful of securing the participation of English players, despite England not playing bilateral cricket against Afghanistan because of concerns over the Taliban government's treatment of women. An earlier report by ESPNcricinfo said the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) would grant no-objection certificates to players wishing to participate in the league.

Naseeb said the ACB valued its relationship with the ECB and other cricket boards and wanted to maintain cooperation on player participation in franchise competitions.

“ACB has always supported and facilitated the participation of our players in England, various leagues and competitions, and we look forward to the same spirit of cooperation for the APL,” he said, expressing confidence that continued collaboration would benefit players, cricket boards and the global development of the sport.