ACB confident of APL revival despite pending franchise deals

The Afghanistan Cricket Board has confirmed that the Afghanistan Premier League will commence on December 27, 2026, in the UAE. The tournament will feature five franchises representing the Kabul, Kandahar, Balkh, Paktia and Nangarhar regions.

The ACB has secured agreements with three franchise owners and is in the process of finalising the remaining two. Five parties have expressed interest in those two spots, including one from Afghanistan and others from India and additional markets. ACB CEO Naseeb Khan addressed the current state of the league's preparations, speaking to Cricbuzz.

"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," Khan told Cricbuzz

"ACB, together with our commercial partner, is in close communication with these parties, and we are working to finalise the remaining two franchise agreements as soon as possible. “It is important to highlight that the commercial partners and franchisees are among the most important stakeholders of the league and are expected to remain involved for the long term. Therefore our priority is not simply to fill the remaining positions quickly, but to ensure that we select credible, financially capable and experienced partners who can contribute to the sustainable growth of the APL," Khan added.

When will the player draft take place and how many players have registered?

The player draft is scheduled for the last week of October 2026, ahead of the December 27 tournament start. Approximately 1,500 players have registered for the APL, including a number of top international players from around the world. Khan confirmed the timeline and the scale of player interest.

"I would like to make it clear that the APL is firmly scheduled for this year with five teams. The player draft is scheduled for the last week of October, and the league will officially commence on 27 December 2026. The response from players has also been very encouraging, with around 1,500 players registered, including a number of top international players from around the world," he said.

Khan elaborated that a dedicated committee is currently screening and assessing registered players against approved criteria.

"A specific committee is currently working on the screening and assessment of registered players in line with the approved criteria. A pool of Afghan coaches has also been assigned and will be presented for the draft in the coming days. The remaining coaching staff and team captains will likewise be selected based on the approved criteria and the requirements of each franchise which will be available for the draft," he said.

What is the background to the APL revival and what is the board's position on English player participation?

The APL was first held in 2018 with five teams: Balkh Legends, Kabul Zwanan, Kandahar Knights, Nangarhar Leopards and Paktia Panthers. Balkh Legends won that inaugural edition. A second edition was subsequently postponed after the ACB scrapped the league's sanction and commercial rights agreement with Snixer Sports over non-payment of the full rights fees.

The ACB has now confirmed the UAE as the tournament venue, with the option to move to another location in future editions. The board is also hopeful that English cricketers will participate in the APL, despite England's national team refusing bilateral series with Afghanistan over the Taliban government's treatment of women. The ACB addressed its relationship with the England and Wales Cricket Board directly.

"ACB highly values its relationship with all our fellow cricket boards, including the England and Wales Cricket Board, and we remain committed to maintaining a positive, respectful and cooperative relationship with them. Our understanding is that the continued growth of cricket depends on strong cooperation among cricket boards, particularly in facilitating player participation in different forms of cricket, including franchise leagues around the world, subject to the respective boards’ policies, schedules and contractual considerations. “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. We are confident that this mutual understanding and support will continue to benefit the players, the respective boards and the long-term development of cricket globally," Khan said.