AFG *159/6 (48 ov)
ZIM 339/10 (114.5 ov)AFGHANISTAN PREMIER LEAGUE — CHAMPIONS & SEASON-BY-SEASON
- One completed edition (2018)
- 2026-27 relaunch starts 27 Dec 2026
Read this first. The Afghanistan Premier League has been played to a finish only once, in 2018, when Balkh Legends were champions. No editions were held between 2018 and the 2026-27 relaunch, so the all-time winners list has a single entry. The 2026-27 season starts on 27 December 2026 and its champion is still to be decided.
The Afghanistan Premier League (APL) is Afghanistan’s franchise T20 competition. It was first staged in 2018 in the United Arab Emirates, then went dormant for several years before the Afghanistan Cricket Board revived it for the 2026-27 season. Because 2018 is the only edition completed so far, the APL has had just one champion to date: Balkh Legends.
Below is the complete winners list, the full story of the 2018 final, and how the relaunched 2026-27 edition connects to it.
Afghanistan Premier League Winners (Complete List)
| Season | Champion | Runner-up | Final result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Balkh Legends | Kabul Zwanan | Balkh won by 4 wickets (Sharjah) |
| 2026-27 | To be decided | — | Season starts 27 Dec 2026 |
No APL editions were held between 2018 and the 2026-27 relaunch.
APL Champions — Balkh Legends (2018)
Winners of the inaugural and, so far, only completed Afghanistan Premier League.
2018 Afghanistan Premier League: The Only Champions So Far
The first Afghanistan Premier League was held in October 2018 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium with five city-based franchises. Balkh Legends won the title, finishing top of the league table and then beating Kabul Zwanan in the final to be crowned the inaugural champions.
2018 Final: Balkh Legends beat Kabul Zwanan
| Detail | Result |
|---|---|
| Champion | Balkh Legends |
| Runner-up | Kabul Zwanan |
| Kabul Zwanan | 132/9 (20 overs) |
| Balkh Legends | 138/6 (18.1 overs) |
| Result | Balkh Legends won by 4 wickets |
| Venue | Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE |
| Date | 21 October 2018 |
2018 League Standings
| Pos | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Balkh Legends (champions) | 12 |
| 2 | Paktia Panthers | 10 |
| 3 | Kabul Zwanan (runners-up) | 8 |
| 4 | Nangarhar Leopards | 6 |
| 5 | Kandahar Knights | 4 |
Group stage was a double round-robin (eight matches per team) followed by playoffs. Balkh Legends topped the table and went on to win the final.
2018 Award Winners
| Award | Player (Team) | Figure |
|---|---|---|
| Player of the Tournament | Rashid Khan (Kabul Zwanan) | — |
| Most runs | Mohammad Shahzad (Paktia Panthers) | 344 runs |
| Most wickets | Isuru Udana (Paktia Panthers) | 17 wickets |
The Relaunch: 2026-27 Title Up for Grabs
The Afghanistan Cricket Board revived the APL for the 2026-27 season, again played in the UAE, with five city franchises and a fresh franchise structure. The season starts on 27 December 2026, and the new champion will be the second name on the all-time winners list.
The 2026-27 franchises are new entities, but they represent the same cities as the 2018 teams. Balkh, home of 2018 champions Balkh Legends, is now represented by Team Balkh, and Kabul, home of runners-up Kabul Zwanan, by Akcel United Kabul.
2018 Teams and Their 2026-27 Successors
| City | 2018 franchise | 2026-27 franchise |
|---|---|---|
| Balkh | Balkh Legends (champions) | Team Balkh |
| Kabul | Kabul Zwanan (runners-up) | Akcel United Kabul |
| Kandahar | Kandahar Knights | Kandahar Warriors |
| Nangarhar | Nangarhar Leopards | Nangarhar Cosmic |
| Paktia | Paktia Panthers | Team Paktia |
Same cities, new franchises and owners; the 2026-27 teams are not continuations of the 2018 sides, and squads are entirely new.
Afghanistan Premier League Winners FAQs
Who won the Afghanistan Premier League?
Balkh Legends won the Afghanistan Premier League in 2018, the only completed edition so far. They beat Kabul Zwanan in the final at Sharjah. The 2026-27 champion is still to be decided.
How many times has the APL been held?
Once to a finish, in 2018. The league then went dormant until the Afghanistan Cricket Board revived it for the 2026-27 season, which starts on 27 December 2026.
Who won the 2018 APL final?
Balkh Legends beat Kabul Zwanan by 4 wickets. Kabul Zwanan made 132/9, and Balkh Legends chased it down at 138/6 in 18.1 overs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on 21 October 2018.
Who was the player of the tournament in 2018?
Rashid Khan of Kabul Zwanan was named Player of the Tournament at the 2018 APL.
Who scored the most runs and took the most wickets in 2018?
Mohammad Shahzad of Paktia Panthers scored the most runs with 344, and his teammate Isuru Udana took the most wickets with 17.
Are Balkh Legends playing in the APL 2026-27?
Not as the same club. Balkh is represented in 2026-27 by Team Balkh, a new franchise with a new squad from the same city as the 2018 champions.
Who are the APL 2026-27 teams?
Akcel United Kabul, Team Balkh, Kandahar Warriors, Nangarhar Cosmic and Team Paktia, the five city franchises of the relaunched league.
When will the APL 2026-27 champion be decided?
The season begins on 27 December 2026 in the UAE and runs into January 2027, when the new champion will be crowned.
Last updated 14 November 2026