Season
APL 2018 season
Balkh Legends won the first Afghanistan Premier League season, beating Kabul Zwanan in the Sharjah final on 21 October 2018 after topping the league table.
The 2018 season ran from 5 to 21 October 2018, with all 23 matches played at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates. Five teams played a double round-robin league of 20 matches, the top four reached the semi-finals, and Balkh Legends beat Kabul Zwanan in the final.
Legends finished first with 12 points, then beat Nangarhar Leopards by 171 runs in the first semi-final. Kabul Zwanan beat Paktia Panthers by 90 runs in the second semi-final. In the final, Zwanan made 132 for 9 and Legends chased it with 138 for 6 in 18.1 overs.
- Dates
- 5–21 October 2018
- Host
- Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE
- Matches
- 23
- Champion
- Balkh Legends
- Runner-up
- Kabul Zwanan
- Player of the series
- Rashid Khan
- Final
- Legends won by 4 wickets
- Points
- 2 for a win
APL 2018 points table
| Pos | Team | M | W | L | NR | Pts | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Balkh Legends | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 12 | +0.782 |
| 2 | Paktia Panthers | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 10 | +0.144 |
| 3 | Kabul Zwanan | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 | −0.070 |
| 4 | Nangarhar Leopards | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 6 | −0.582 |
| 5 | Kandahar Knights | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 4 | −0.226 |
Shaded sides played semi-finals.
APL 2018 knockout stage
How APL 2018 was set up
Five teams played each other twice in the league stage, giving each side eight matches. The top four advanced to the semi-finals, and the winners met in the final. Every match was played at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Kandahar Knights finished fifth with four points and did not reach the knockouts.
APL 2018 semi-finals
First semi-final, 19 October 2018: Balkh Legends scored 235 for 5 and bowled Nangarhar Leopards out for 64, winning by 171 runs. It was the largest winning margin of the season and the lowest total of the season.
Second semi-final, 20 October 2018: Kabul Zwanan scored 192 for 9 and bowled Paktia Panthers out for 102, winning by 90 runs.
APL 2018 final
Final, 21 October 2018, Sharjah: Kabul Zwanan won the toss and chose to bat, reaching 132 for 9, with Javed Ahmadi top-scoring with 32 off 19. Qais Ahmad took 5 for 18. Balkh Legends replied with 138 for 6 in 18.1 overs, with Chris Gayle scoring 56 off 34 and Wayne Parnell taking 3 for 35. Legends won by 4 wickets, and Qais Ahmad was named player of the match. The longer telling is the match report.
Players who defined APL 2018
Mohammad Shahzad made 344 runs, the most in the season, and Isuru Udana took 17 wickets, the most in the season. Both played for Paktia Panthers, who finished second in the league but lost their semi-final. Hazratullah Zazai scored 124 on 9 October, and Balkh posted the season's highest total, 244 for 6, on 14 October. Mohammad Nabi captained the champions, Balkh Legends. Rashid Khan captained the runners-up, Kabul Zwanan, and was named player of the series.
APL 2018 season records
The season's highest total was Balkh Legends' 244 for 6. The lowest total was Nangarhar Leopards' 64 all out in the semi-final. The biggest win was Balkh's 171-run semi-final win. The leading run scorer was Mohammad Shahzad with 344 runs, and the leading wicket taker was Isuru Udana with 17 wickets. The full record book is on the records page.
What APL 2018 was not
It was not a home tour of Afghanistan. It was not a template the 2026 franchises inherit. Next season in this book is 2026, eight years later, with different clubs.
Conclusion
Balkh Legends won the league and the final, and no other side from 2018 holds a title. The season's records stand as the first chapter of the league, and the full match list is on the results page.
APL 2018 season FAQs
Who won the APL 2018 season?
Balkh Legends won the APL 2018 season. They beat Kabul Zwanan by 4 wickets in the final at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on 21 October 2018, chasing 132 for 9 with 138 for 6 in 18.1 overs.
How many matches were played in APL 2018?
Twenty-three matches were played in APL 2018: 20 league matches, two semi-finals and the final. All 23 matches were played at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates.
Who were the leading players of APL 2018?
Mohammad Shahzad scored the most runs, 344, and Isuru Udana took the most wickets, 17. Rashid Khan was named player of the series.
Where was APL 2018 played?
Every match of APL 2018 was played at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates, from 5 to 21 October 2018.