Ahead of the Pakistan Super League 2026 (PSL 2026) draft, star players of Afghanistan can take a strong stance against Pakistan. In a recent report it is claimed that multiple players of the Afghanistan national team are set to stay away from the PSL 2026 players draft. 

The political relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan worsened after an airstrike that took the lives of multiple civilians, including three young Afghan cricketers. In protest, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) issued a strong statement against Pakistan. After the tragic incident, ACB decided to withdraw their team from a Tri-Nation T20I Series involving Pakistan.

"In response to this tragic incident and as a gesture of respect to the victims, the Afghanistan Cricket Board has decided to withdraw from participating in the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I Series involving Pakistan," the ACB stated. 

Read More: Watch: This heartwarming video proves Rohit Sharma is true leader and real hero

Afghanistan players can skip PSL 2026 edition 

🚨 AFGHAN PLAYERS WON'T BE AVAILABLE FOR PSL 2026.

- Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Naveen ul Haq, and Mujeeb Zadran will not register for the PSL 2026 draft.

— @1stSportsEvent1 pic.twitter.com/K9NDHVXgyT

— ACB Xtra (@acb_190) January 7, 2026

Star cricketer of Afghanistan, Rashid Khan, also showed protest against Pakistan in strong words. He mentioned the airstrike as a "grave violation of human rights." Taking a step further, he removed the name of Lahore Qalandars, his Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise, from his official 'X' account as well. 

According to some fresh reports, Afghanistan players will not participate in the upcoming edition of the Pakistan Super League. Star Afghan players like Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Naveen ul Haq, and Mujeeb Zadran will not not register for the PSL 2026

draft. 

Rashid Khan, who was the leader of the Afghanistan side during the last year’s Men’s T20 World Cup in West Indies and the United States of America, will continue the same role in the next T20 World Cup as they named their 15-member squad for the event in India and Sri Lanka. The side will also play West Indies in the UAE as a preparation in three T20Is.

Afghanistan’s squad also includes the left-arm pacer, Fazalhaq Farooqi, off-spinner- Mujeeb Ur Rahman, all-rounder, Gulbadin Naib, and right-arm seamer- Naveen-ul-Haq as both Farooqi and Naib return to the side after being left-out of the white-ball trip of Bangladesh in October.

See Also: Watch: Usman Tariq bowled with illegal action to Kieron Pollard in Qualifier 1 of ILT20 2025/26

Mujeeb’s inclusion, has pushed the mystery spinner- Allah Ghazanfar- out of the squad and to the reserves. This also includes Ijaz Ahmadzai and Zia Ur Rahman. Naveen. though, comes after a shoulder injury that ruled him out of the Asia Cup in September.

Afghanistan recall Fazalhaq Farooqi for T20 World Cup 2026

Afghanistan made to the semifinal of he last World Cup where they played the game against South Africa. On the way, they beat the higher-rated teams like New Zealand, West Indies, Australia, and Bangladesh.

“Afghanistan had a terrific run in the previous edition of the T20 World Cup. We cherish excellent memories from the past, and hope for even better results this year, which will be played in Asian conditions. Hosting the West Indies team provides us with an incredible opportunity to fine-tune our combination, and prepare adequately for the World Cup.” The ACB CEO, Naseeb Khan, said.

The West Indies T20I series begins on January 19 as they are placed in the Group D with New Zealand, the Proteas, UAE and Canada. They will start their campaign against the Blackcaps on February 08 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Afghanistan squad for T20 World Cup 2026

Rashid Khan (captain), Ibrahim Zadran (vice-captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Mohammad Ishaq (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Shahidullah Kamal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Abdullah Ahmadzai.

Reserves: AM Ghazanfar, Ijaz Ahmadzai and Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi. 

The emergence of the Afghanistan cricket team was like a fairy tale. With a bunch of talented cricketers, the team proved many critics wrong. For that country, cricket was like a ray of hope. Cricket fans barely can imagine how the life of a cricketer there used to be.

During a recent conversation with former England batter Kevin Pietersen, Rashid Khan, Afghanistan's cricket icon, gives a reflection on the ground reality. Still, Khan is using a personal vehicle in his homeland, Kabul, which is bulletproof. The spin wizard said that when he was young, he dreamt about playing cricket for his country. Because, at that time, for a sportsperson there, it was the most he could dream about.

Because of safety measures, playing or learning cricket in Afghanistan was not an easy task for anyone. "I was not allowed to go and play outside," Rashid Khan said. After all the obstacles, Khan and other cricketers, whom we can now see on screen playing for Afghanistan, somehow manage to cherish one of their bigger dreams.

Read More:'Hat-trick because of Rohit...'— Deepak Chahar reveals how Rohit Sharma's captaincy helped him to bloom as main bowler

For Khan, winning the World Cup is his biggest dream as a cricketer. Khan claimed that the craze for cricket in Afghanistan was unmatchable. He even compared India's love for the sport. Now, as he is now an icon, people in his homeland greet him and want to take a selfie. 

Watch what Rashid Khan said about cricket in Afghanistan 

Rashid Khan On Growing Up In Afghanistan & Becoming The World’s Best Spinner 💬

Check Out This BIG Interview NOW on YouTube, GO SUBSCRIBE! 💥 pic.twitter.com/CDQKy8PCpo

— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) December 22, 2025

Meanwhile, taking a step further, the Afghanistan Cricket Board has announced the launch of a new franchise-based T20 tournament, the Afghanistan Premier League (APL). The APL will feature five city-based franchises and is expected to have its player draft around June-July 2026. 

"The inaugural season will feature five city-based franchises, bringing together Afghanistan's leading national players alongside prominent overseas professionals and emerging local talent," the ACB said in a press release.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced a new franchise-based T20 league called the Afghanistan Premier League. The first season is expected to be held in October 2026 in the UAE. The tournament will feature five teams.

The new league, held under the same name, is likely to have its player draft around June or July 2026. International players are also expected to be part of the draft.

Earlier, ACB had launched a tournament with the same name in 2018. Only one season was played with five teams. That edition attracted several big stars, including Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum, and Shahid Afridi. However, the league was discontinued after one season due to payment issues and concerns over management and integrity.

This new version is being seen as a fresh start. ACB has promised better planning and stronger financial support. The board hopes the Afghanistan Premier League will give more exposure to Afghan players and help grow cricket in the country.

Also read -Watch: Heated clash between India and Pakistan players sparks controversy U19 Asia Cup 2025

The stage is set for the Grand Launch Event of the second edition of the Afghanistan Premier League. Stay tuned, the excitement is just around the corner. 👏🤩#APLT20 pic.twitter.com/oMCGnOhBhZ

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) December 20, 2025

ACB Highlights Vision for Afghanistan Premier League

“The inaugural season will feature five city-based franchises, bringing together Afghanistan's leading national players alongside prominent overseas professionals and emerging local talent,” the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said in a press release.

ACB chairman Mirwais Ashraf spoke at the launch event in Dubai on Saturday and shared the board’s vision for the league. “The Afghanistan Premier League represents a meaningful step forward in our cricketing journey,” Ashraf said. “It creates new opportunities for our players, inspires the next generation, and allows Afghanistan cricket to be showcased on a global platform.” He added that the APL will help the growth and unity of the game at both domestic and international levels.

Read More -Watch: "Didn't want to..."- Rohit Sharma reacts to ODI World Cup 2023 final defeat

League Management and Domestic T20 Plans

The ACB has partnered with Cricket Venture, a joint venture between Trans Group and ITW Universe, to manage and operate the new league.

“Following the launch, organisers will move into the next phase, which includes finalising franchise identities, confirming commercial partners, and progressing the player auction or draft process,” the release added.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan will continue to host its domestic T20 tournament, the Shpageeza Cricket League. The competition features five domestic teams and is held every year during the July–August window.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is all set to launch the Afghanistan Premier League T20 (APLT20), the country’s newest T20 competition, in a major ceremony on December 20 in the United Arab Emirates. During this event, the ACB will reveal the tournament window, match venues, league format, and other important details for the first-ever edition of the league. The APLT20 is expected to become a significant milestone in Afghanistan’s cricket journey.

The event will be attended by key personalities from the cricketing world, along with broadcasters, media groups, and commercial partners, among other invitees. ACB will share the complete plan for the league, introduce its brand identity, and explain how the tournament will generate revenue through sponsorships and partnerships. This launch aims to outline how the league will be shaped and operated.

After the official launch, the investment rights for APLT20 will be formally handed over to the ITW-TG consortium. This agreement was signed earlier in July, but the launch, which was initially planned for August was delayed due to administrative and technical issues. With those matters now resolved, the ACB is ready to unveil everything on December 20.

ACB Leaders Confident About the Future of APLT20

ACB chairperson Mirwais Ashraf said, “The APL is a strategic pillar of ACB’s long-term vision, and the 20th December launch event marks a major step toward turning that vision into reality. We appreciate the professionalism and dedication of our partners at ITW MEA, TG, and Skywalkers. The league will open new horizons for Afghan cricket, and we look forward to presenting its full framework at the launch.”

See Also: “Everything Matched My Style..”: Phil Salt Opens Up on Why RCB Was a Perfect Fit for Him

ACB CEO Naseeb Khan added, “The progress made since awarding the investment partnership rights has been highly encouraging. The APL will provide a world-class platform for Afghan players and a strong commercial ecosystem for the board. The upcoming launch event will outline the complete roadmap, and we are excited to introduce this next phase to the global cricketing community.”

Afghanistan’s premier leg spinner, Rashid Khan, has confirmed that he got married for the second time, which has sparked widespread attention among the fans and on social media platforms. The veteran leg spinner has taken to the Instagram account and called it a deeply personal and joyous milestone in his life.

The reports have claimed that Rashid Khan expressed how meaningful this union has been for him. He described his new wife as a symbol of love and also revealed that he had always envisioned having such a partner in life, and now feels complete after the new beginning.

See Also: Watch: Steve Smith takes stunning catch for New South Wales during Sheffield Shield 2025-26 clash

“On August 2nd, 2025, I began a new and meaningful chapter of my life. I had my nikkah done and married a woman who embodies the love, peace, and partnership I always hoped for. I recently took my wife to a charity event, and it’s unfortunate to see assumptions being made from something so simple.” He wrote on his Instagram account.

Know who is Rashid Khan’s second wife as Afghanistan star shares close message

The reports have claimed that Rashid Khan’s second wife is of Afghan origin and currently resides abroad. The couple tied the knot on August 2, 2025, which is less than a year after he was married for the very first time in October 2024 to his cousin. Although Rashid has married for the second time, there is no update on the status of his first wedding.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rashid Khan (@rashid.khan19)

In the heartfelt message, Rashid expressed how meaningful this union has been for him. They were recently seen together in a charity event, which led to speculation online on social media platforms. He also addressed the curiosity and clarified the situation- “The truth is simple- she is my wife, and we stand by each other.”

Rashid Khan has picked up 45 wickets in 11 innings of Test cricket, besides collecting 210 wickets and 182 wickets in the ODI and T20I formats of the game. The leg spinner is expected to play a crucial role in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.

The Hong Kong Sixes 2025 have started on November 07 with the clash between Afghanistan and Nepal in Pool A at the Mission Road Ground in Mong Kok, where a famous and incredible feat took place during the game. It was Rashid Khan, but not from Afghanistan- it was against Afghanistan from the Nepal side.

On the first ball of the fourth over, Rashid Khan, the right-arm pacer, came charging against Sediqullah Pacha on 13 runs in five balls. The right-handed batter looked to nail the slot delivery out of the ground, but it didn’t come on the middle of his blade and only flew in the air before the fielder grabbed the catch quite comfortably.

See Also: [WATCH] "Do remember..."- Sunil Gavaskar proposes plan to sing with Jemimah Rodrigues after Women's World Cup 2025 glory

On the very next delivery, Sharafuddin Ashraf looks to slash the length of the delivery over the point region. He also didn’t get the same elevation, and the slower ball ended up in the hands of the fielder, Rupesh Singh, who came forward to grab the catch.

Watch: Rashid Khan celebrates famous hat-trick against Afghanistan during Hong Kong Sixes 2025

The question was whether Rashid could take a hat-trick on the third successive ball of the innings. Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai looked to use his entire power to smash the bowler straight down the ground, but he didn’t get the full power off the blade as the field grabbed a fine catch to send the batter back into the hut. Rashid finished with a fine figure of 4/27 in two overs.

🚨Hat-trick Alert🚨

A Rashid Khan you didn’t see coming 👀

The Nepal pacer pulls off a sensational hat-trick vs Afghanistan in the #HongKongSixes 🎯 pic.twitter.com/X9NcP2dcAT

— FanCode (@FanCode) November 7, 2025

Karim Janat smashed 35 runs in just 10 balls with the help of two boundaries and four sixes, while Farmanullah Safi stayed unbeaten on 30 runs in just nine balls, riding on two boundaries and three sixes. Their captain, Gulbadin Naib, cracked 22 runs in nine balls to push Afghanistan to 112/5 in their allotted six overs.

In reply, Nepal’s captain and wicket-keeper batter, Sundeep Jora, nailed 53 runs in 14 balls with the help of one boundary and eight sixes at a strike rate of 378.67. But still they fell short of the target by 17 runs. Safi was excellent with the ball and finished with 1/19 in his two overs.

Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has decided to part ways with their head coach, Jonathan Trott, after the end of the T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. They announced the decision on Monday, stating that it would be a long-term strategic decision for the next phase of the national team’s growth. During his tenure, the Asian side earned incredible success in both white-ball formats of the game.

Afghanistan narrowly missed out on the chance to qualify for the semifinal of the 2023 World Cup, finishing sixth on the points table, having defeated some strong sides like England, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan in the competition. They were even more clinical in the T20 World Cup 2024, qualifying for the semifinal stage for the first time with victories over New Zealand, Australia, and Bangladesh.

See Also: “Everybody was crying…”- Harmanpreet Kaur reveals India’s emotion on Pratika Rawal’s injury in Women’s World Cup 2025

“It has been a privilege to work with the Afghanistan National Team and to witness their passion, resilience, and hunger to achieve greatness. I am proud of what we have accomplished together, and I will always remain a supporter of Afghan cricket. I wish the team and the Afghan people continued success in the years ahead.” Head coach Trott spoke on his tenure.

Jonathan Trott to end his Afghanistan head coach tenure post T20 World Cup 2026

Under Rashid Khan and Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan featured in the away ODI and T20I series against Zimbabwe before shifting their focus to another series. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) CEO, Naseeb Khan, added that the decision has been part of the broader vision beyond 2026.

“Jonathan has played an important role in our journey, helping our players grow in confidence and compete against the world's strongest sides. As we look ahead to 2026 and beyond, this transition is part of our broader plan to take Afghanistan cricket to its next level.”- The ACB CEO addressed.

“On behalf of the Afghanistan Cricket Board, I extend our sincere gratitude to Jonathan Trott for his dedicated service and the professionalism he brought to our national team. His efforts have supported a crucial period in the development of Afghanistan cricket, and we wish him every success in his future endeavors.” The ACB chairman, Mirwais Ashraf, shed light.

ZIM vs AFG 2nd T20I Match Preview:

Zimbabwe will take on Afghanistan in the 2nd match of the T20 series. Afghanistan defeated Zimbabwe by 53 runs in the first match and took a 1-0 lead. Batting first, Afghanistan posted 180 runs on the board. In response, Zimbabwe managed to reach 127 runs.

Azmatullah Omarzai was named Player of the match for his all-around performance, taking 3 wickets and scoring 27 runs off 21 balls. On the other hand, Tinashe Maposa, Brian Bennett and  Sikandar Raza fought back from Zimbabwe, but their efforts were not enough. In the 2nd T20I, ZIM will aim to level the series. 

ZIM vs AFG Recent Performance:

ZIM vs AFG Afghanistan Tour of Zimbabwe, 2025 Match Details:

• Series/Tournament: Afghanistan Tour of Zimbabwe, 2025
• Match: ZIM vs AFG Match 2nd T20I
• Date: 31 Oct. 2025
• Match Start Time: 05:30 PM IST
• Stadium/Venue: Harare Sports Club, Harare, Zimbabwe
• Live Score: cricketwinner.com
• Live Streaming: Fan Code app.

ZIM vs AFG Head-to-Head Stats:

(Last 10 Matches)

ZIM vs AFG Pitch & Weather Report:

The weather is expected to be favourable during this match. The temperature is expected to reach around 25.7°C. Based on previous stats, the average score at this venue ranges between 160 and 180 runs. The pitch offers good assistance to batters and pacers, suggesting a high-scoring encounter

Harare Sports Club, Harare, Zimbabwe, stats: 

The Harare Sports Club, Harare, Zimbabwe, the pitch is balanced and provides equal opportunities to both batsmen and bowlers. Winning the toss and opting to bat first will be a wise decision on this surface.      

ZIM vs AFG Dream11 Prediction Playing 11

Zimbabwe (ZIM) Probable 11:

1. Brian Bennett, 2. Tadiwanashe Marumani(WK), 3. Brendan Taylor(WK), 4. Sikandar Raza(C), 5. Ryan Burl, 6. Tony Munyonga, 7. Tashinga Musekiwa, 8. Brad Evans, 9. Tinotenda Tinashe Maposa, 10. Richard Ngarava, 11. Blessing Muzarabani

Afghanistan (AFG) Probable 11:

1. Ibrahim Zadran, 2. Rahmanullah Gurbaz(WK), 3. Sediqullah Atal, 4. Darwish Rasooli, 5. Azmatullah Omarzai, 6. Mohammad Nabi, 7. Shahidullah Kamal, 8. Rashid Khan(C), 9. Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, 10. Abdullah Ahmadzai, 11. Fareed Ahmad Malik

ZIM vs AFG- Top Picks from Zimbabwe:

ZIM vs AFG- Top Picks from Afghanistan:

Cricket Winner Player’s Insight:

• Azmatullah Omarzai (AFG) took 3 wickets and scored 27 runs in the previous match. He will be the favourite among fantasy players for Captain and Vice-captain in the fantasy team.
• Sikandar Raza (ZIM) is a key all-rounder. He took 3 wickets in the last game and is expected to earn good fantasy points. 
• Brian Bennett (ZIM) has been the highest run getter for the Zimbabwe side this year. He scored 24 runs in the first game and is expected to play a good inning in this match.
• Ibrahim Zadran (AFG) is a technically sound batsman. He played a brilliant inning of 52 runs in the first match. 

ZIM vs AFG Captain & Vice-Captain Choices:

ZIM vs AFG Fantasy Team Suggestion:  

ZIM vs AFG Dream11 Prediction Expert Advice: 

ZIM vs AFG Dream11 Prediction Probable Winners:

AFG is expected to win this match. The Afghan team batting unit has depth and experience and a lot of firepower, while the ZIM middle order has been struggling for a while. Zimbabwe is hoping for a big knock from Ryan Burl and Brendan Taylor.

ZIM vs AFG 3rd T20I FAQ

Who is likely to win the ZIM vs AFG match today?

Afghanistan (AFG) is expected to win this match.

Who is ahead in head-to-head stats?    

Afghanistan.

Who are the top fantasy picks for the ZIM vs AFG Dream11 team?

Sikandar Raza, Azmatullah Omarzai, Brian Bennett, and Ibrahim Zadran

What is the pitch report for this match?

The surface is flat and excellent for batters, and we can expect an average score range between 160 and 180 runs.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB)’s spokesperson, Sayed Naseem Sadaat, revealed that the board has possessed obvious evidence, including the video footage, implicating the national team in an attack that killed the three local cricketers in Afghanistan’s Urgun district, as the incident has prompted the subcontinent side to withdraw from next month’s tri-nation T20I series. 

The statement has come after the government of Pakistan denied the reports of those cricketers being killed in an airstrike. The spokesperson has confirmed that the board has officially decided to withdraw from the upcoming tri-series, hosted by Pakistan, as Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) replaced them.

See Also: “Australia won’t spare if…”- Mohammed Kaif slams Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s preparation for AUS vs IND ODIs

“We got evidence that all the cricket fraternity and all the people around the world would have definitely watched our video report on the incident that was made by our media team. So we got the clear evidence that a Pakistani state did the attack.” Sadaat expressed during an interaction with ANI.

Watch: Pakistan’s role in killing three Afghanistan cricketers leaked in video footage to go viral

In a post, the Afghanistan Cricket Board reported that the attack had caused multiple casualties, including the three local cricketers- Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon- who were coming back home after playing a friendly game in Paktika province. The board considered it a great loss for Afghanistan’s sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family.

PAK ARMY bombed a civilian area in PAKTIKA AFGHANISTAN killing 6 young boys including budding cricket players.
Heartbreaking to say the least .
Afghanistan 🇦🇫 vs Pakistan 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/JB2aObPxkk

— KAFIR ON STEROIDS (@TammaraoPatil) October 18, 2025

“We call upon all the cricket boards to condemn such barbaric attacks because cricket is a game that carries the message of peace. Cricketers are peace ambassadors, and they should stay away from the war. War should not be interfered with in sports. So we call upon all the cricket fraternity and boards to condemn such attacks and keep cricket away from war.” Sadaat addressed the same discussion.  

Zimbabwe has since stepped in to replace Afghanistan in the tri-series, joining Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The series will begin on November 17 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium with the home side facing Zimbabwe in Sri Lanka at the same venue. The remaining five games and the final will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.