Following a decade of significant growth for Afghan cricketers across major global T20 competitions—including the IPL, CPL, PSL, ILT20, SA20, and BBL—the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is set to launch its own professional T20 league. The inaugural edition of the Afghanistan Premier League (APL) is scheduled to commence on December 27, with matches taking place at ICC-approved venues in the United Arab Emirates.
The ACB has granted operational and promotional rights to the UAE-based Cricket Ventures LLC-FZ, which is 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 property that fosters Afghan talent while providing investors with a stable, long-term platform.
Three of the five planned franchises have already been acquired. The Kabul team, branded as Akcel United Kabul, was purchased by Amit Kaushal of the AKCEL Group. The Kandahar Warriors franchise was secured by Pankaj Chadha and Ashish Mehta of the Dubai-based Bullfrog group, who also own the Pokhara Avengers in the Nepal Premier League. Additionally, Afghan-American entrepreneur Shakaib Rahimi has acquired the Balkh Zwanan team. The ACB is currently in discussions with several US-based billionaire magnates and Indian corporate entities to finalize the remaining two franchises.
The base price for the right to own and operate a franchise is set at USD 1,250,000. Available team identities for purchase include Kabul, Kandahar, Herat, Balkh, Nangarhar, and Paktia. While the tournament will be hosted in the UAE for its first season, the ACB has explicitly kept the option open to move future editions to alternative international locations.
The league structure will feature five teams, with each side 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, recruited through an inaugural draft process.
Playing XI regulations require a maximum of four foreign players, while the remaining seven spots must include at least one local emerging player. The tournament will also feature the Koh-E-Zafar trophy, which incorporates a mountain motif to symbolize the resilience of the Afghan cricket nation.
Key dates for the upcoming season are firmly set: player registration opens on August 30, followed by the inaugural draft on September 27. The league is then scheduled to play its first ball on December 27. Between these milestones, organizers are focused on finalizing the remaining franchises, securing commercial partners, and ensuring high-quality broadcast and fan engagement 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 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 a maximum of 4 foreign players and one local emerging player in the remaining 7, in the playing XI.
