Afghanistan’s top-tier domestic T20 competition, the Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan Grade 1 Provincial Tournament, kicked off on Tuesday with matches hosted by Kandahar and Nangarhar provinces, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said.
The tournament will run from Feb. 3 to Feb. 13 and follows the conclusion of the 50-over version of the same competition last week, which was won by Nangarhar.
This year marks the first time the Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan Grade 1 Provincial Tournament has been staged in two formats – one-day and T20 – as part of efforts to strengthen Afghanistan’s domestic cricket structure.
The ACB’s domestic cricket department said the dual-format approach aims to identify talented players for progression to higher competitions, including List A cricket, the Mirwais Nika Three-Day Tournament and the National T20 Cup.
Group-stage matches will be played in Kandahar and Nangarhar, with the tournament then shifting entirely to Nangarhar for the semi-finals and final.
The ACB said players and squads who took part in the one-day provincial tournament will also compete in the T20 event, allowing selectors to assess performances across both formats as part of the national talent development pathway.
