Overview
- The Afghanistan Cricket Board held a Dubai launch on August 26 announcing the APL T20’s return and naming Axcel United Kabul, Balkh Zwanan and Kandahar Warriors as the three founding franchises.
- The league revealed a championship trophy called Koh-E-Zafar, described by organisers as inspired by Afghanistan’s mountain ranges and national colours.
- Player registration will open on August 30 and the official player draft is scheduled for September 27 to fill squads ahead of the planned December start.
- Organisers are targeting a UAE-based season start in December 2026, with most outlets reporting December 27 as the kickoff date while at least one outlet reports December 20; full venues, fixtures and two remaining franchise slots have not yet been confirmed.
- The APL’s relaunch is being positioned as a more controlled rebuild after the 2018 edition collapsed when rights-holder Snixer Sports failed to meet payment obligations and raised integrity concerns, a history that helps explain current emphasis on financing, ownership and governance.