Afghanistan Premier League Set for December Comeback with Three Franchises

The Afghanistan Premier League is set to return later this year, with the relaunched franchise-based T20 tournament scheduled to begin on December 27, 2026.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has unveiled three franchises for the inaugural edition of the revamped league: Axcel United Kabul, Balkh Zwanan and Kandahar Warriors. The tournament will be played for the newly unveiled Koh-E-Zafar, meaning "Mountain of Victory", trophy.

The ACB is yet to officially announce the venues, but the inaugural season is expected to be held in the United Arab Emirates, rather than Afghanistan. The franchise and trophy unveiling ceremony was held in Dubai.

The next major step will be the player registration process. The registration portal for the player draft is scheduled to open on August 30, with the draft set to take place on September 27.

The tournament was initially announced as a five-team competition, with franchises representing Paktia and Nangarhar also planned. However, the ACB is still working to finalise the remaining two teams.

ACB chairman Mirwais Ashraf described the launch as an important milestone for Afghan cricket, saying the league is intended to create a stronger pathway for young players from domestic cricket to the international level.

The three confirmed franchises have also outlined their ambitions. Axcel United Kabul plans to build a professional and competitive team representing the capital, while Balkh Zwanan will focus on identifying and developing young talent from northern Afghanistan. Kandahar Warriors, meanwhile, have promised an aggressive and fearless style of cricket backed by passionate supporters.

This will be the second attempt at an Afghanistan Premier League. The first edition was launched in 2018 and featured five teams, with international stars including Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum and Shahid Afridi participating. However, the tournament lasted only one season amid payment disputes and integrity concerns.

The relaunched league will operate alongside Afghanistan's existing domestic T20 competition, the Shpageeza Cricket League, which is traditionally played during the July-August window.

With the first three franchises now confirmed and the player draft approaching, the Afghanistan Premier League is moving closer to its December comeback.

Catch the match live updates, highlights, and full match coverage on CricRadio. Get fast, accurate, and ad-free updates throughout the game. Download the CricRadio app from the Play Store to stay connected. You can also get the live scores of cricket series directly on the CricRadio website for real-time coverage.