The Afghanistan Premier League is making the preparations for its first five-team season, which will kick off in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from December 27. The AFP is a significant development in the history of Afghan cricket, as its team of players have excelled in international T20 events. The tournament has already secured three franchises and is well set-up for a player draft to be held on September 27 as it is looking to become a new international T20 league. Get the top odds soon for this on 12BET Exchange!
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Afghanistan Premier League Set for Major UAE Debut
Initially the Afghanistan Premier League will be played at venues approved by the ICC in UAE. Future editions may be held elsewhere, according to the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB).
Five Franchises to Compete
Afghanistan Premier League will be starting with five teams, while that three team owners have already been announced.
Amit Kaushal, founder and chairman of the AKCEL Group, has bought up the franchise of Akcel United Kabul in Kabul. The team owners are Dubai-based Pankaj Chadha and Ashish Mehta, who have taken over Karachi-based Kandahar Warriors, and Afghan-American entrepreneur Shakaib Rahimi has bought the Balkh Zwanan.
Reports on the ongoing talks for the other two remain at this stage have suggested that the ACB is continuing the discussions. The AFP is thus open to extra investment prior to their first season.
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Draft and Player Registration Dates
The APL player registration will start on 30 August and the first draft will be held on 27 September. The tournament starts December 27th.
The 16 to 18 players will be seen in each home nation of the Afghanistan Premier League. Teams will draft their teams and this will be an important segment for the development of the local Afghan cricket team.
Afghanistan Premier League Format and Rules
Five teams will be competing in the Afghanistan Premier League with each team playing a minimum of eight games in the group stage.
Qualification Structure
The winner of the group stage will advance directly to the group final. Teams two and three will have an Eliminator fight off, with the victor going on to play in championship.
The Afghanistan Premier League also will have overseas player quotas. Each playing XI may have a maximum of four foreign players and at the same time, four of the remaining field places will have to be filled by local emerging players.
Investment and Franchise Opportunities
The cost of owning and running an AFP franchise has been fixed at USD 1.25 million. Several cities have been opened for franchise, Kabul, Khandah, Herat, Balkh, Nangarhar and Paktia.
The Afghanistan Premier League set to do just two things: Give Afghan players a domestic competition which is similar to the others in the T20 world and to ensure that the match is economically viable.
12BET Exchange and APL 2026 Action
Players watching the Afghanistan Premier League can keep track of the event at 12BET. For cricket fans, the 12BET exchange may rally a market related to cricket, and a cricket exchange is another option for those players trying to track the dynamics of the sport via its live results.
With the AFL growing in exposure AFP matches can create interest for those who like a T20 match around the world.
Afghanistan Premier League Begins a New Chapter
APL has been created to promote the local cricket talent in Afghanistan and to establish a domestic T20 tournament. The Afghanistan Premier League, a pipeline of five franchises, an international venue and a forward-thinking commercial strategy and vision, could play a pivotal role in cricket’s future in Afghanistan.
The AFP has an opportunity to see that the success that Afghan players have enjoyed in such kind of league like IPL, PSL, CPL, BBL, etc. and other ongoing and upcoming international leagues will further flourish in the next league, which is this league and going to be launched on 27 December. If the tournament offers some great competition and coming together with fans, the league could emerge as another big name in the International T20 calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the Afghanistan Premier League start?
The Afghanistan Premier League will commence from December 27 and its first season will be played in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
How many teams will play in the Afghanistan Premier League?
There are no timelines for the inaugural players of the AFP as it will have five teams. Three players have already been announced as owners, and there are still talks under way with the two others.
Where will the AFP be played?
The first campaign of the Afghanistan Premier League will examine UAE, at approved structures as by Made up of known ICC. Future editions may be held elsewhere, the Afghanistan Cricket Board has said.
