ACB puts annual cap on Afghanistan players' participation in foreign leagues

The Afghanistan Cricket Board has unveiled a major policy update, emphasizing the protection of player welfare and the strengthening of the national team's performance. The ACB has announced a new rule, limiting its cricketers to appear in franchise-based T20 tournaments not exceeding three in a year in addition to the homegrown Afghanistan Premier League (APL). 

The move was approved at the board’s Annual General Meeting in Kabul and reflects growing concerns over workload management and player fitness. Under the new policy, Afghan internationals will be eligible to participate in the five-team franchise-based APL tournament, which is scheduled to get underway later this year and will be played in the United Arab Emirates.

The ACB explained that the cap is designed to help players maintain their physical and mental well-being and ensure that they are available for the national duties. 

"To protect player fitness and mental well-being, the board approved a new policy regarding foreign leagues. Players will now be permitted to participate in the Afghanistan Premier League (APL), plus only three other international leagues per year. This measure aims to manage workload and ensure peak performance for national duties," the ACB statement said.

This decision could have far-reaching implications for some of Afghanistan’s most in-demand T20 stars, who can be seen playing in T20 leagues across the year. Players like Rashid Khan, currently starring in multiple global leagues, including the SA20, IPL, ILT20, and MLC, will now have to make strategic choices about where they play to stay within the new limit. 

Other franchise stars, such as Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, AM Ghazanfar, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, will also feel the impact as they now have to manage their participation in foreign leagues, in consideration of the new guidelines.

For the unversed, the Afghanistan’s men’s side is currently preparing for a three-match T20I series against West Indies in the UAE and will soon head to India for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where they will kick off their campaign against New Zealand on February 08. The Rashid Khan-led side had made it to the semi-finals in 2024, but will be hoping to cross the barrier this time round.