Several Indian investors have expressed interest in acquiring franchises in the Afghanistan Premier League (APL). The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has confirmed that five parties are competing for the two remaining ownership slots, with three franchise owners already confirmed for the five-team tournament.
The APL is scheduled to return on December 27, 2026, in the United Arab Emirates after an eight-year gap. Although reports suggested that ownership negotiations could delay the tournament, the ACB has dismissed the possibility of a postponement and maintained that preparations remain on track.
Balkh Legends, Kabul Zwanan, Kandahar Knights, Nangarhar Leopards and Paktia Panthers featured in the inaugural edition in 2018, with Balkh Legends winning the title. However, the league did not return as planned after the ACB scrapped its commercial rights agreement with Snixer Sports over the non-payment of the full rights fees.
Speaking to Cricbuzz, ACB chief executive Naseeb Khan said the board was taking a careful approach to selecting franchise owners and commercial partners rather than rushing to fill the remaining slots for the Afghanistan league.
“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,” said Naseeb.
“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,” he added.
Player Draft Set for Late October With 1,500 Registrations
Naseeb Khan confirmed that the APL remains on schedule, with the player draft set for the final week of October ahead of the December 27 start in the UAE. Around 1,500 players have registered for the tournament, including several international cricketers who could feature alongside players from Afghanistan.
“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,” Naseem said.
A dedicated committee is screening the registered players against approved selection criteria. The ACB has also assigned a pool of Afghan coaches to take part in the draft process. The remaining coaching staff and team captains will be selected based on the requirements of each franchise.
“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.
The revamped tournament is scheduled to feature 24 matches across venues in the UAE. The Afghanistan Cricket Board has also kept open the possibility of hosting future editions in other locations.
ACB Expects English Players to Feature Despite Bilateral Stance
The ACB is hopeful that English cricketers will take part in the APL despite the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) refusing to play bilateral series against Afghanistan over the Taliban government's treatment of women.
Naseeb said the ACB values its relationship with the ECB and hopes both boards will continue to cooperate on player participation in franchise competitions, including the Afghanistan Premier League.
“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,” Naseeb said.
“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,” he added.
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