A significant policy update has been released by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), with a focus on improving the performance of the national team and safeguarding player welfare. In addition to the domestic Afghanistan Premier League (APL), the ACB has established a new regulation that restricts its cricket players to participating in no more than three franchise-based T20 competitions annually.
The action, which was authorised during the board’s annual general meeting in Kabul, is a response to rising worries over player fitness and workload management. Afghan internationals will be able to compete in the five-team franchise-based APL tournament, which is set to begin later this year in the United Arab Emirates, under the new regulation.
The cap is intended to assist players in maintaining their physical and emotional health and guarantee their availability for national obligations, according to the ACB.
“To protect player fitness and mental well-being, the board approved a new policy regarding foreign leagues. Players will now be permitted to participate in the Afghanistan Premier League (APL), plus only three other international leagues per year. This measure aims to manage workload and ensure peak performance for national duties,” the statement said.
For some of Afghanistan’s most sought-after T20 players, who participate in T20 tournaments all year round, this decision may have significant ramifications. In order to keep below the new quota, players like Rashid Khan, who now participate in several international tournaments such as the SA20, IPL, ILT20, and MLC, will need to make calculated decisions about where they play.
The impact will also be felt by other franchise talents like Rahmanullah Gurbaz, AM Ghazanfar, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Noor Ahmad, who must now manage their involvement in international leagues in light of the new regulations.
The Afghan men’s team is currently training for a three-match Twenty20 International series against the West Indies in the United Arab Emirates. They will soon go to India for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where they will play their opening match against New Zealand on February 8. The team captained by Rashid Khan advanced to the 2024 semifinals, but they will be looking to break through this time.
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