The Afghanistan Cricket Board announced on Tuesday that it had opened the franchise acquisition process for the return of the Afghanistan Premier League, the country’s flagship Twenty20 competition, which is scheduled to resume later this year in the United Arab Emirates.
The cricket board said it would formally issue requests for proposals for franchise ownership on May 15, with submissions due by June 30.
The tournament, known as the APL T20, is expected to feature five franchise teams representing Kabul, Kandahar, Balkh, Paktia and Nangarhar.
According to the board, the second edition of the league is planned for the final quarter of 2026 and will be staged in the UAE to provide “international-standard infrastructure” and attract overseas players and investors.
The APL T20 was first launched in 2018 in Sharjah but did not continue in subsequent years amid organizational and financial challenges.
The revival of the competition comes as Afghan cricketers have become prominent figures in major international T20 leagues, including the Indian Premier League, Australia’s Big Bash League and other global franchise tournaments.
In a statement, ACB Chairman Mirwais Ashraf said the league’s return marked “a significant step in the continued growth of Afghan cricket globally.”
“We are confident that the APL will open a new chapter of professionalism, commercial growth, and international recognition for Afghan cricket,” he said.
The board said it had developed a commercial structure focused on long-term sustainability and attracting international investment.
ACB also described the tournament as a platform for Afghan players to gain international exposure and compete alongside overseas professionals.
Afghanistan’s national cricket team has emerged in recent years as one of the strongest associate-to-full-member success stories in international cricket, recording victories over several major cricketing nations in global tournaments.
The board said the league would also serve to promote Afghanistan’s image internationally while contributing to the long-term commercial development of the sport in the country.
