2018
APL 2018
Champion: Balkh Legends
Runner-up: Kabul Zwanan
5–21 October · Sharjah
Seasons
APL seasons
The Afghanistan Premier League has two seasons so far: the 2018 season, won by Balkh Legends in Sharjah, and the 2026 season, which starts on 27 December 2026 in the UAE. Between them sits an eight-year gap with no APL season at all.
By Saleem Sial · Last updated 5 November 2026
This hub lists every APL season, with the champion, the runner-up, the venue, and the player of the series where one was named. The 2018 detail page carries the full table, the knockout path, and the season leaders, and the 2026 detail page carries everything confirmed so far about the revival, including the squads and the format. The 2018 titles stay with the clubs that won them, because the 2026 clubs are new franchises rather than continuations of the 2018 sides.
2026–27
APL 2026
Champion: not played
Runner-up: not played
First ball 27 December 2026
Every APL season
| Season | Dates | Host | Teams | Champion | Runner-up | Player of the series |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 5–21 October 2018 | Sharjah Cricket Stadium | 5 | Balkh Legends | Kabul Zwanan | Rashid Khan |
| 2026–27 | First ball 27 December 2026 | UAE, grounds to be confirmed | 5 | To be decided | To be decided | To be decided |
APL 2018 season
The 2018 APL season ran from 5 to 21 October 2018, with every match at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Five clubs played a double round-robin, 20 league matches in all, and the top four went into the semi-finals. Balkh Legends finished first with 12 points, ahead of Paktia Panthers on 10, Kabul Zwanan on 8, Nangarhar Leopards on 6, and Kandahar Knights on 4.
The top four league sides contested the semi-finals: Balkh Legends beat Nangarhar Leopards in one, and Kabul Zwanan beat Paktia Panthers in the other. In the final on 21 October, Zwanan batted first and made 132 for 9, with Qais Ahmad taking 5 for 18, and Legends chased 138 for 6 in 18.1 overs, with Chris Gayle making 56 off 34. Mohammad Nabi captained the winners, and Rashid Khan captained the runners-up and was still named player of the series. The full table, the knockout detail, and the season leaders are on the 2018 season page.
The gap: no APL season, 2019–2025
There was no APL season between 2019 and 2025. The next season after 2018 is the 2026 revival, eight years later, with different clubs. That gap is why the champions page has only one row. No champion exists for those years, because no season was played.
APL 2026 season
The board announced the return in December 2025. Three franchises were unveiled in August 2026, then the set became five, and the Koh-e-Zafar trophy was unveiled in the same month. A leaders' draft named captains and coaches in late October, and the player draft followed on 3 November 2026 in Dubai, with 18 rounds and 90 picks. The first ball sits on 27 December 2026 at 5:30 PM Afghanistan time in the UAE.
The 2026 season has no champion, no table, and no results yet. Its format is a double round-robin with the top four into the playoffs, and 24 matches if the advertised total holds. Fixtures and grounds are still to be confirmed, and the same is true of broadcasters and owners. The schedule page lists everything unconfirmed in full. The five franchises, with captains and coaches, are on the teams page, and the full squads are on the squads page.
Season records
Every APL season record so far comes from 2018, because 2026 has not been played yet. The headline numbers from that season are:
- Most runs in a season: Mohammad Shahzad, 344, for Paktia Panthers.
- Most wickets in a season: Isuru Udana, 17, for Paktia Panthers.
- Final, 2018: Balkh Legends 138 for 6 beat Kabul Zwanan 132 for 9 by four wickets at Sharjah on 21 October 2018.
- League winners, 2018: Balkh Legends, 12 points from eight matches.
More APL records are on the records page, and more season numbers are on the stats page.
Why the APL 2018 and 2026 seasons are separate
City names repeat and clubs do not. Balkh Zwanan are not Balkh Legends, Kabul's 2026 club is Akcel United Kabul and not Kabul Zwanan, and the 2018 titles stay with the clubs that won them. That is why this hub keeps the two cards apart, and why the APL champions page has only one row.
Conclusion
The APL story so far is short: one finished season, one long gap, and one revival about to start. The 2018 season belongs to Balkh Legends, the years from 2019 to 2025 belong to no one, and the 2026 season will add its first champion when it is played. This hub will gain a second champion's name only when a final is actually won, and until then it keeps the 2026 row honestly blank.
Frequently asked questions
How many APL seasons have there been?
Two. The 2018 season, won by Balkh Legends, and the 2026 season, which starts on 27 December 2026 and has no champion yet. There was no APL season between 2019 and 2025.
Who won the APL in 2018?
Balkh Legends, captained by Mohammad Nabi, beat Kabul Zwanan by four wickets in the final at Sharjah on 21 October 2018. Rashid Khan captained the runners-up and was named player of the series.
Why was there no APL season from 2019 to 2025?
The league did not stage a season in those years. The next season after 2018 is the 2026 revival, with five new franchises, and the 2018 titles stay with the clubs that won them.
When does the APL 2026 season start?
The first ball is on 27 December 2026 at 5:30 PM Afghanistan time in the UAE. No champion has been decided, and no fixtures, grounds, or standings exist yet.