KABUL, Afghanistan — The fifth edition of the Mirwais Neka Regional Three-Day Tournament, one of the country’s premier first-class domestic cricket competitions, is set to begin on April 5, 2025, in Nangarhar province, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced Tuesday.
The ACB has finalized the squads for all five participating regional teams — Bost, Amo, Speen Ghar, Mis-e-Ainak, and Band-e-Amir — who will compete in a round-robin format through April 23. The tournament serves as a critical stepping stone for players aiming to qualify for Afghanistan’s elite red-ball event, the Ahmad Shah Abdali First-Class Tournament, scheduled for May.
Each match in the Mirwais Neka Tournament spans three days, making it a long-format competition distinct from the 50-over and T20 formats.
Organized annually by the ACB, the tournament brings together top performers from the Grade-I and Grade-II provincial competitions alongside contracted red-ball cricketers, offering them a platform to showcase their skills at a higher level of competitive play.
In the 2024 edition, Boost Region captured their first title, emerging as champions among five regional teams. The tournament also highlighted rising talents: Arshaduddin Safi led the run charts with 393 runs, while Khalil Gurbaz topped the wicket-takers with 17 wickets.
This year’s squads once again feature a mix of emerging talent and seasoned performers. Each team has been carefully selected by the ACB’s selection committee to ensure a competitive and high-quality tournament.
The Mirwais Neka Tournament is a key fixture in the ACB’s calendar, designed to strengthen the red-ball cricket structure in Afghanistan and provide consistent match exposure to players ahead of international fixtures.
