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Afghanistan T20 Cricket League Sets Itself High Goals

The inaugural Afghanistan Premier League of Cricket (APLC) will take place from October 5 to 23 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium with five franchises fighting for glory in 23 matches, according to Sport 360. 

Helping to put the rising Asian side’s league on the world map will be star names such as Shahid Afridi, Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, Shoaib Malik among a host of renowned Afghans such as Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Zadran.

Around 400 names have been finalised for the draft that will take place next week. The teams have been split on provincial lines in Afghanistan; they are Kabul, Kandahar, Nangarhar, Paktia and Balkh.

“This APL season is going to be a brilliant showcase of existing and future talent!” the APLC tweeted.

Three other teams are up for grabs with the organisers suggesting two heavyweight T20 franchise owners are close to buying franchise rights in APLC.

Players will be picked through a draft with cricketers divided into categories like Icon players, Diamond players, Gold players and Emerging players.

According to Shafiqullah Stanikzai – CEO of Afghanistan Cricket Board – the following which Afghan cricket has not only back home but also in the UAE and the Indian subcontinent should make the tournament a raging success, Sport 360 reported.

“The APLC will be among the top three leagues in the world in coming two to three years. The viewership that we have across the globe and especially in the Indian market is big. After their own team, the most watched team in India is Afghanistan,” Stanikzai told Sport 360.

“Asian subcontinent is the biggest market and the timing of Afghanistan Premier League (of Cricket) will suit that. The style of cricket that Afghanistan has brought to global cricket is our biggest advantage.”

Ashish Sethi, CEO Snixer Sports – investment partners of APLC – said the league has immense potential and it will be an opportunity for the world to see the talent Afghanistan cricket has.

“You will get to see a lot of raw talent. If you see IPL and Big Bash, they have a few (Afghan) players you are aware of. Here you will see players you haven’t even heard of. We look forward to having many more Rashids and Nabis,” Sethi told Sport 360.

Sethi is confident that once the league is up and running, turning a profit will only be a matter of time.

“We expect to reach break-even by the third year and fourth year onwards we should make profits. We have controlled expenses. We have kept the player purse very comfortable. We don’t want franchises to bleed.”

Stanikzai sees the league as an opportunity to not only provide more financial opportunities to Afghan cricketers but also put a larger pool on the radar of franchises from across the planet.

“Financially, our players will be good. Though ACB runs a system where we have 200 full-time professional cricketers, this league will help Afghanistan cricket enormously. Secondly, you can only give opportunities to 11 players in your national side. This league will give exposure to the talent we have in Afghanistan.

“I am quite sure in next year or so, we will have 10 to 20 players in the IPL. Afghanistan will be a hot pick for franchise cricket.”

Afghanistan T20 Cricket League Sets Itself High Goals

According to the APLC about 400 names have been finalized for the draft that will take place next week. 

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The inaugural Afghanistan Premier League of Cricket (APLC) will take place from October 5 to 23 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium with five franchises fighting for glory in 23 matches, according to Sport 360. 

Helping to put the rising Asian side’s league on the world map will be star names such as Shahid Afridi, Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, Shoaib Malik among a host of renowned Afghans such as Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Zadran.

Around 400 names have been finalised for the draft that will take place next week. The teams have been split on provincial lines in Afghanistan; they are Kabul, Kandahar, Nangarhar, Paktia and Balkh.

“This APL season is going to be a brilliant showcase of existing and future talent!” the APLC tweeted.

Three other teams are up for grabs with the organisers suggesting two heavyweight T20 franchise owners are close to buying franchise rights in APLC.

Players will be picked through a draft with cricketers divided into categories like Icon players, Diamond players, Gold players and Emerging players.

According to Shafiqullah Stanikzai – CEO of Afghanistan Cricket Board – the following which Afghan cricket has not only back home but also in the UAE and the Indian subcontinent should make the tournament a raging success, Sport 360 reported.

“The APLC will be among the top three leagues in the world in coming two to three years. The viewership that we have across the globe and especially in the Indian market is big. After their own team, the most watched team in India is Afghanistan,” Stanikzai told Sport 360.

“Asian subcontinent is the biggest market and the timing of Afghanistan Premier League (of Cricket) will suit that. The style of cricket that Afghanistan has brought to global cricket is our biggest advantage.”

Ashish Sethi, CEO Snixer Sports – investment partners of APLC – said the league has immense potential and it will be an opportunity for the world to see the talent Afghanistan cricket has.

“You will get to see a lot of raw talent. If you see IPL and Big Bash, they have a few (Afghan) players you are aware of. Here you will see players you haven’t even heard of. We look forward to having many more Rashids and Nabis,” Sethi told Sport 360.

Sethi is confident that once the league is up and running, turning a profit will only be a matter of time.

“We expect to reach break-even by the third year and fourth year onwards we should make profits. We have controlled expenses. We have kept the player purse very comfortable. We don’t want franchises to bleed.”

Stanikzai sees the league as an opportunity to not only provide more financial opportunities to Afghan cricketers but also put a larger pool on the radar of franchises from across the planet.

“Financially, our players will be good. Though ACB runs a system where we have 200 full-time professional cricketers, this league will help Afghanistan cricket enormously. Secondly, you can only give opportunities to 11 players in your national side. This league will give exposure to the talent we have in Afghanistan.

“I am quite sure in next year or so, we will have 10 to 20 players in the IPL. Afghanistan will be a hot pick for franchise cricket.”

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