The Afghanistan Premier League (APL) is officially making its return to franchise cricket, with the relaunched T20 competition scheduled to begin on December 27, 2026.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has taken another major step towards the tournament by unveiling the first three franchises and the competition's new Koh-E-Zafar trophy, meaning "Mountain of Victory."
The three confirmed franchises are Axcel United Kabul, Balkh Zwanan and Kandahar Warriors.
The APL was initially announced as a five-team competition, with franchises also expected to represent Paktia and Nangarhar. However, the remaining two franchises have not yet been confirmed.
The revival represents a significant development for Afghanistan cricket as the country looks to establish a sustainable franchise tournament capable of providing young Afghan players with greater professional opportunities and global exposure.
Afghanistan Premier League 2026 Start Date
The relaunched Afghanistan Premier League will begin on December 27, 2026.
The complete match schedule has not yet been announced.
The tournament was previously expected to be staged in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) rather than Afghanistan. The franchise and trophy unveiling ceremony was also held in Dubai.
However, official venues for the upcoming competition are still to be confirmed.
APL 2026 Key Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | Afghanistan Premier League (APL) |
| Format | T20 |
| Start Date | December 27, 2026 |
| Organiser | Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) |
| Planned Teams | 5 |
| Confirmed Franchises | 3 |
| Confirmed Teams | Axcel United Kabul, Balkh Zwanan, Kandahar Warriors |
| Other Planned Regions | Paktia, Nangarhar |
| Player Registration Opens | August 30, 2026 |
| Player Draft | September 27, 2026 |
| Trophy | Koh-E-Zafar |
| Expected Host Country | United Arab Emirates |
| Full Schedule | Yet to be announced |
Three Afghanistan Premier League Franchises Confirmed
The APL has officially revealed its first three franchises.
1. Axcel United Kabul
Axcel United Kabul will represent Kabul in the relaunched Afghanistan Premier League.
As Afghanistan's capital and one of the country's major cricket centres, Kabul will be an important market for the competition.
The franchise's ownership has emphasised its ambition to create a professionally run and competitive team capable of representing the city's cricketing identity.
2. Balkh Zwanan
Balkh Zwanan represents Afghanistan's northern cricketing region.
The word "Zwanan" means "youth," which reflects the franchise's stated objective of identifying talented young players and giving them an opportunity to compete on a professional stage.
Developing pathways for emerging cricketers could become one of the most important functions of the relaunched APL.
3. Kandahar Warriors
Kandahar Warriors will represent Kandahar and Afghanistan's southern cricketing region.
The franchise has promised to build its identity around aggressive and fearless cricket, reflecting the passionate cricket culture of Kandahar.
What About Paktia and Nangarhar?
When the new Afghanistan Premier League was originally announced, the ACB planned a five-franchise competition representing:
- Kabul
- Kandahar
- Balkh
- Paktia
- Nangarhar
At present, only Kabul, Balkh and Kandahar have confirmed franchises.
The ACB is reportedly continuing discussions regarding franchises representing Paktia and Nangarhar.
Therefore, the final five-team line-up should not be considered confirmed until the league makes another official announcement.
APL Player Registration Opens August 30
Another major milestone will arrive on August 30, 2026, when the player registration portal for the Afghanistan Premier League draft is scheduled to open.
Players interested in participating in the competition will be able to register ahead of the inaugural draft of the relaunched tournament.
Afghanistan Premier League Draft Date
The APL player draft is scheduled for September 27, 2026.
The draft should provide the first clear picture of how the three confirmed franchises—and potentially the remaining two—will build their squads.
Afghanistan has produced several internationally recognised T20 players in recent years, meaning the player draft could become one of the most closely followed stages ahead of the tournament.
Koh-E-Zafar Trophy Unveiled
Alongside the franchise announcements, organisers unveiled the trophy that teams will compete for.
The trophy has been named Koh-E-Zafar, which translates to "Mountain of Victory."
The name represents the long-term ambition behind the relaunched competition.
ACB chairman Mirwais Ashraf described the unveiling as a landmark moment for Afghan cricket and emphasised the league's role in creating a pathway for young cricketers to progress from grassroots cricket towards the international game.
Afghanistan Premier League Returns After Eight Years
Although the current tournament is being presented as a relaunched competition, this is not the first time an Afghanistan Premier League has been organised.
The original APL took place in 2018, also featuring five teams.
The tournament attracted several major international cricketers, including:
- Chris Gayle
- Brendon McCullum
- Shahid Afridi
However, only one season was completed.
The competition was subsequently discontinued following payment-related problems and concerns surrounding the league's integrity.
That history makes the governance and financial sustainability of the relaunched APL particularly important.
Who Won the 2018 Afghanistan Premier League?
Balkh Legends won the inaugural Afghanistan Premier League in 2018.
Led by Mohammad Nabi, Balkh defeated Kabul Zwanan, captained by Rashid Khan, by four wickets in the final.
Rashid Khan was named Player of the Tournament.
The original competition featured five teams:
- Balkh Legends
- Kabul Zwanan
- Kandahar Knights
- Nangarhar Leopards
- Paktia Panthers
The 2026 competition represents a fresh start rather than simply reproducing those original franchises.
Why the Relaunched APL Matters for Afghanistan Cricket
Afghanistan's rise in international cricket has been one of the most remarkable developments in the sport over the past two decades.
Afghan stars have become prominent figures across major T20 leagues around the world, while the national team has increasingly challenged cricket's established powers.
A successful Afghanistan Premier League could provide another important step in that development.
The competition could help:
- Create professional opportunities for emerging Afghan cricketers
- Identify talent from different regions of Afghanistan
- Give domestic players experience alongside established professionals
- Strengthen the country's player-development pathway
- Increase commercial investment in Afghanistan cricket
- Build a globally recognised Afghan franchise-cricket property
For younger players in particular, the league could provide a bridge between regional cricket and the Afghanistan national team.
APL and Afghanistan's Growing T20 Presence
Afghanistan already operates the Shpageeza Cricket League, a domestic T20 competition featuring five teams.
The relaunched Afghanistan Premier League is intended to operate as a franchise-based competition with broader commercial and international ambitions.
With Afghan players already prominent across franchise cricket worldwide, a successful APL would allow Afghanistan to develop a stronger franchise ecosystem of its own.
