Afghanistan Premier League takes shape with unveiling of three new franchises
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ACB revealed the Koh-E-Zafar trophy for the inaugural season of the Afghanistan Premier League.
Afghanistan have taken another significant step towards developing its domestic cricket structure with the launch of the Afghanistan Premier League.
The proposed competition will be a T20 league and is set to provide a grand platform for Afghan cricketers to play T20 cricket at the highest level alongside some of the most established international names.
The league’s first season is scheduled to begin on December 27, 2026, with the ACB now moving towards the player drafts and several other arrangements. The inaugural franchises and the competition’s trophy were recently revealed during a ceremony in Dubai, attended by most franchise owners and other ACB officials.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board revealed the Koh-E-Zafar trophy for the inaugural season of the Afghanistan Premier League. The trophy design draws inspiration from Afghanistan’s mountain ranges and symbolises the strength, resilience, and achievements of Afghan cricket.
The tournament is still in its early phases, as the complete fixtures and venues are yet to be announced. However, the ACB has made significant progress by announcing three franchises.
Now, with registration beginning on August 30, all eyes will be on the players registering for the first season. The final draft of the competition is scheduled for the 27th September.
Three franchises revealed for the inaugural APL T20
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The 3 franchises announced for the upcoming season are Axcel United Kabul, Balkh Zwanan and Kandahar Warriors. These three teams represent three different regions of Afghanistan and are expected to play a major role in developing Afghanistan’s domestic ecosystem.
Axcel United Kabul will be representing the capital city of Afghanistan, Kabul, and will be one of the three founding franchises.
Balkh Zwanan will represent Afghanistan’s northern provinces, and the term ‘Zwanan’, which means ‘youth’ in Pashto, signifies that the team will prioritise young cricketers from Afghanistan.
The Kandahar Warriors hail from the southern region, and it is hoped that more cricketers from key parts of Afghanistan will emerge on the big stage and catch the eye of national selectors.
This league could add to Afghanistan’s growing prominence in T20I cricket over the past few years. With global superstars like Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rashid Khan and Azmatullah Omarzai, the Afghans have finished as strong contenders to many big nations in the shortest format of the game.
When will the Afghanistan Premier League start?
The league’s first season is scheduled to begin on December 27, 2026
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Subhomoy Datta has been a sports writer since 2022. He holds a BSc in Microbiology from Rastraguru Surendranath College, WBSU, and is currently pursuing his master’s at NIT Surathkal. With a growing interest in sports journalism, he enjoys following the game closely and turning sporting moments into stories for fans.