ACB announces first three franchises for Afghanistan Premier League T20 inaugural season

The Afghanistan Premier League T20 has unveiled its first three franchises ahead of the inaugural season, which is scheduled to begin on December 27, 2026. The three teams are Axcel United Kabul, Balkh Zwanan and Kandahar Warriors.

The franchises were officially unveiled at a ceremony in Dubai on August 26, 2026. The event was attended by franchise owners, league partners and Afghanistan Cricket Board officials, who came together to mark the launch of the new tournament.

The league also unveiled its official trophy, named the Koh-E-Zafar. The trophy takes inspiration from Afghanistan’s mountain ranges and is designed to represent strength, resilience and the highest level of achievement in cricket.

ACB confirms first three APL T20 franchises — Kabul, Balkh & Kandahar teams named

The Afghanistan Cricket Board has confirmed the first three franchises for the inaugural Afghanistan Premier League T20 season. The teams are Axcel United Kabul, Balkh Zwanan and Kandahar Warriors, with each franchise representing a different region of Afghanistan.

Balkh Zwanan will focus on developing young cricketing talent from northern Afghanistan. The franchise has highlighted its aim of giving young players opportunities to grow. Kandahar Warriors, meanwhile, are expected to bring an aggressive approach to the competition and attract strong support from their home region. Axcel United Kabul will represent the capital city.

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Reports suggest that five franchises are planned for the inaugural APL season, representing Kabul, Kandahar, Balkh, Paktia and Nangarhar. However, the Afghanistan Cricket Board has not yet confirmed the remaining two franchises as of August 26, 2026.

Koh-i-Zafar Trophy unveiled as ACB chairman calls it a "Historic Moment"

The Afghanistan Premier League T20 has unveiled its inaugural trophy, named the Koh-E-Zafar. The trophy takes inspiration from Afghanistan’s rugged mountain landscape and is designed to represent strength, resilience and the highest level of achievement in cricket.

The ACB chairman Mirwais Ashraf addressed the gathering at the ceremony in Dubai and highlighted the importance of the event for Afghan cricket. He described the launch of the franchises and trophy as an important step for the future of the league and the country’s cricket.

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"Today is a landmark occasion for Afghan cricket. The unveiling of our inaugural franchises and the Koh-E-Zafar trophy reflects our shared vision of building a league that inspires future generations," Ashraf was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

Two franchises still pending — What this means for Afghanistan Premier League's future

The Afghanistan Premier League was the country’s first franchise-based T20 tournament. It began in 2018 but was discontinued after its first season due to financial issues. Ahead of the planned second season, the Afghanistan Cricket Board postponed the league because of concerns over unpaid rights fees and other issues.

The ACB had earlier stated that Snixer Sports failed to pay the complete rights fees for the first edition according to the agreed payment schedule. The board also raised concerns about risks to the league’s integrity linked to people connected with the company. These issues eventually led to the termination of the agreement.

The APL has now announced a clear schedule for the upcoming season. The player registration portal will open on August 30, 2026, while the player draft is scheduled for September 27. The confirmed franchises will then build their squads ahead of the December 27 season opener, with the tournament set to be played in the UAE.