When is Afghanistan Premier League 2026? Teams, Venue and Other Details

The Afghanistan Premier League start date is announced, and the T20 tournament is set to begin on December 27, 2026. The launch of the tournament is being seen as one of the most exciting business opportunities in today’s cricket world.

The tournament will be held in the United Arab Emirates later this year and will include five teams representing Afghanistan’s key cricket regions: Kabul, Kandahar, Balkh, Paktia, and Nangarhar. The Afghanistan Cricket Board has opened the franchise ownership process to investors, sports business groups, and commercial partners worldwide, with the final date for submitting proposals set for June 30, 2026.

When is Afghanistan Premier League 2026?

Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) chief executive Naseeb Khan explained that the timeline for the Afghanistan Premier League 2026 was selected after reviewing Afghanistan’s packed cricket calendar.

Khan added that the ACB’s objective is to organise the league during a period that avoids overlap with Afghanistan’s international fixtures and minimises conflict with other major T20 competitions. Weather conditions in the UAE were also considered to ensure suitable playing conditions.

Based on these factors, the board has come up with December 27, 2026, as Afghanistan Premier League start date. The tournament will feature five teams and follow a double round-robin format before moving into the playoffs and the final.

Afghanistan Premier League Teams

The first season of the Afghanistan Premier League was held in 2018 and featured five franchises: Balkh Legends, Kabul Zwanan, Kandahar Knights, Nangarhar Leopards, and Paktia Panthers. Balkh Legends emerged as the champions of the tournament’s debut edition. However, efforts to continue the league in the following years did not work.

Plans for a second season were eventually abandoned after the Afghanistan Cricket Board cancelled its commercial and sanction agreement with Snixer Sports due to unresolved payments related to franchise rights. ACB chief executive Naseeb Khan stated that the board has reflected on the challenges faced in the past and is approaching the relaunch with greater planning and caution.

Apart from the planning and structure, some of the best cricketers in the world are also likely to feature in the tournament, including renowned Afghan players and one of the best T20 bowlers in the world, Rashid Khan. Along with him, Mohammad Nabi, Ibrahim Zadran, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz are also expected to play a vital part in the league.