APL 2026: Over 1,000 players register ahead of September 27 draft

More than 1,000 players have signed up for the second edition of the Afghanistan Premier League (APL), with the total pool including at least 500 foreign cricketers. The sign-up window ran from September 1 to September 19, 2026, giving players just under three weeks to enter their names before the draft process begins.

Sayed Naseem Sadat, spokesman for the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), confirmed the registration figures. The numbers point to a strong level of global interest in the revived franchise competition, which will feature five teams and is scheduled to take place in the final quarter of 2026.

The player draft, which will determine squad compositions for all five franchises, is set for September 27, 2026. Once squads are finalised, the tournament will proceed in the remaining months of the year, completing the league’s return to Afghan cricket after a lengthy absence. Shakib Al Hasan, Nahid Rana, and Taskin Ahmed are the Bangladeshi stars confirmed to have registered for the draft.

Why does the 2026 APL carry the label of a revival?

The Afghanistan Premier League made its debut in 2018 but did not return for eight years after that inaugural edition. The 2026 tournament is only the second time the competition has been staged, making it a significant moment for franchise cricket in Afghanistan.

The eight-year gap between editions means the ACB is effectively rebuilding the league’s structure from scratch. The board has opted for a five-team format this time, and the September 27 draft will be the first step in assembling those squads. The tournament’s placement in the final quarter of 2026 gives the ACB sufficient time to complete the draft process and allow franchises to prepare before play begins.

What does the foreign player turnout reveal about the draft pool?

Of the more than 1,000 players who submitted registrations before the September 19 deadline, at least 500 are from outside Afghanistan. International cricketers therefore account for roughly half of the entire draft pool, reflecting wide awareness of the league’s return among players across the globe.

The precise split between domestic Afghan players and overseas registrants beyond the confirmed 500 foreign player figure has not been disclosed. The five franchises will draw from this combined pool at the September 27 draft. With the tournament to follow later in 2026, the scale of registrations suggests the APL’s second edition has generated considerably broader participation than its 2018 predecessor managed at a comparable stage.

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