AFG *159/6 (48 ov)
ZIM 339/10 (114.5 ov)AFGHANISTAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2026-27 — FIXTURES & VENUES
- Starts 27 Dec 2026
- 5 teams
- UAE
Note. This is a tentative schedule based on a five-team double round-robin. The confirmed start date (27 December 2026) and UAE host are official; the exact fixture order, final date and host venues are set by the Afghanistan Cricket Board closer to the tournament.
The Afghanistan Premier League returns for the 2026-27 season on 27 December 2026, played across the United Arab Emirates. Five franchises, Akcel United Kabul, Team Balkh, Kandahar Warriors, Nangarhar Cosmic and Team Paktia, contest a Twenty20 competition run by the Afghanistan Cricket Board. This page sets out the full tentative schedule, the team-by-team fixtures, the expected venues and answers to the most common schedule questions.
Each team plays a double round-robin, meeting every other side twice, for eight league games each. That makes 20 league matches, after which the top four qualify for the playoffs: Qualifier 1, the Eliminator, Qualifier 2 and the Final. All times are shown in Gulf Standard Time (GST), which is India time minus one and a half hours.
Key Dates at a Glance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Season start | 27 December 2026 |
| Host country | United Arab Emirates (UAE) |
| Teams | 5 franchises |
| League format | Double round-robin (8 games per team) |
| League matches | 20 |
| Playoffs | Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2, Final (top 4) |
| Final | To be confirmed (tentative mid-January 2027) |
Full APL 2026-27 Schedule
Every match in playing order, league stage first, then the playoffs and final. The first team listed is the designated home side.
| Match | Date | Match Fixture | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| League Stage | ||||
| 1 | Sun, 27 Dec7:30 PM GST |
 Team PaktiaPAKvs Team BalkhBAL
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
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| 2 | Mon, 28 Dec7:30 PM GST |
 Kandahar WarriorsKANvs Nangarhar CosmicNAN
Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
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| 3 | Tue, 29 Dec7:30 PM GST |
Team PaktiaPAKvs Akcel United KabulKAB
Dubai International Stadium, Dubai
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| 4 | Wed, 30 Dec7:30 PM GST |
Kandahar WarriorsKANvsTeam BalkhBAL
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
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| 5 | Thu, 31 Dec7:30 PM GST |
Akcel United KabulKABvsNangarhar CosmicNAN
Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
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| 6 | Fri, 1 Jan3:30 PM GST |
Kandahar WarriorsKANvsTeam PaktiaPAK
Dubai International Stadium, Dubai
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| 7 | Fri, 1 Jan7:30 PM GST |
Akcel United KabulKABvsTeam BalkhBAL
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
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| 8 | Sat, 2 Jan3:30 PM GST |
Nangarhar CosmicNANvsTeam BalkhBAL
Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
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| 9 | Sat, 2 Jan7:30 PM GST |
Kandahar WarriorsKANvsAkcel United KabulKAB
Dubai International Stadium, Dubai
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| 10 | Sun, 3 Jan7:30 PM GST |
Nangarhar CosmicNANvsTeam PaktiaPAK
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
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| 11 | Mon, 4 Jan7:30 PM GST |
Team BalkhBALvsTeam PaktiaPAK
Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
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| 12 | Tue, 5 Jan7:30 PM GST |
Nangarhar CosmicNANvsKandahar WarriorsKAN
Dubai International Stadium, Dubai
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| 13 | Wed, 6 Jan7:30 PM GST |
Akcel United KabulKABvsTeam PaktiaPAK
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
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| 14 | Thu, 7 Jan7:30 PM GST |
Team BalkhBALvsKandahar WarriorsKAN
Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
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| 15 | Fri, 8 Jan3:30 PM GST |
Nangarhar CosmicNANvsAkcel United KabulKAB
Dubai International Stadium, Dubai
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| 16 | Fri, 8 Jan7:30 PM GST |
Team PaktiaPAKvsKandahar WarriorsKAN
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
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| 17 | Sat, 9 Jan3:30 PM GST |
Akcel United KabulKABvsKandahar WarriorsKAN
Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
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| 18 | Sat, 9 Jan7:30 PM GST |
Team BalkhBALvsNangarhar CosmicNAN
Dubai International Stadium, Dubai
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| 19 | Sun, 10 Jan7:30 PM GST |
Team BalkhBALvsAkcel United KabulKAB
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
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| 20 | Mon, 11 Jan7:30 PM GST |
Team PaktiaPAKvsNangarhar CosmicNAN
Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
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| Playoffs | ||||
| 21 | Wed, 13 Jan7:30 PM GST | Qualifier 1: 1st vs 2nd Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah | ||
| 22 | Thu, 14 Jan7:30 PM GST | Eliminator: 3rd vs 4th Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah | ||
| 23 | Sat, 16 Jan7:30 PM GST | Qualifier 2: Loser Q1 vs Winner Elim. Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah | ||
| Final | ||||
| F | Mon, 18 Jan7:30 PM GST | Final: Winner Q1 vs Winner Q2 Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah | ||
Tentative schedule modelled on a five-team double round-robin. The official fixture, final date and confirmed venues are set by the ACB closer to the tournament.
Tentative fixture order. Replace with the official ACB schedule on release.
Team-Wise APL 2026-27 Schedule
Each franchise’s eight league matches, with opponents, home or away, timings and venues.
Akcel United Kabul (KAB) — Captain: Azmatullah Omarzai
| Match | Date | Opponent (H/A) | Time (GST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Tue, 29 Dec | Team Paktia (A) | 7:30 PM | Dubai International Stadium, Dubai |
| 5 | Thu, 31 Dec | Nangarhar Cosmic (H) | 7:30 PM | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| 7 | Fri, 1 Jan | Team Balkh (H) | 7:30 PM | Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah |
| 9 | Sat, 2 Jan | Kandahar Warriors (A) | 7:30 PM | Dubai International Stadium, Dubai |
| 13 | Wed, 6 Jan | Team Paktia (H) | 7:30 PM | Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah |
| 15 | Fri, 8 Jan | Nangarhar Cosmic (A) | 3:30 PM | Dubai International Stadium, Dubai |
| 17 | Sat, 9 Jan | Kandahar Warriors (H) | 3:30 PM | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| 19 | Sun, 10 Jan | Team Balkh (A) | 7:30 PM | Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah |
Team Balkh (BAL) — Captain: Ibrahim Zadran
| Match | Date | Opponent (H/A) | Time (GST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun, 27 Dec | Team Paktia (A) | 7:30 PM | Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah |
| 4 | Wed, 30 Dec | Kandahar Warriors (A) | 7:30 PM | Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah |
| 7 | Fri, 1 Jan | Akcel United Kabul (A) | 7:30 PM | Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah |
| 8 | Sat, 2 Jan | Nangarhar Cosmic (A) | 3:30 PM | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| 11 | Mon, 4 Jan | Team Paktia (H) | 7:30 PM | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| 14 | Thu, 7 Jan | Kandahar Warriors (H) | 7:30 PM | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| 18 | Sat, 9 Jan | Nangarhar Cosmic (H) | 7:30 PM | Dubai International Stadium, Dubai |
| 19 | Sun, 10 Jan | Akcel United Kabul (H) | 7:30 PM | Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah |
Kandahar Warriors (KAN) — Captain: Rashid Khan
| Match | Date | Opponent (H/A) | Time (GST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Mon, 28 Dec | Nangarhar Cosmic (H) | 7:30 PM | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| 4 | Wed, 30 Dec | Team Balkh (H) | 7:30 PM | Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah |
| 6 | Fri, 1 Jan | Team Paktia (H) | 3:30 PM | Dubai International Stadium, Dubai |
| 9 | Sat, 2 Jan | Akcel United Kabul (H) | 7:30 PM | Dubai International Stadium, Dubai |
| 12 | Tue, 5 Jan | Nangarhar Cosmic (A) | 7:30 PM | Dubai International Stadium, Dubai |
| 14 | Thu, 7 Jan | Team Balkh (A) | 7:30 PM | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| 16 | Fri, 8 Jan | Team Paktia (A) | 7:30 PM | Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah |
| 17 | Sat, 9 Jan | Akcel United Kabul (A) | 3:30 PM | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
Nangarhar Cosmic (NAN) — Captain: Rahmat Shah
| Match | Date | Opponent (H/A) | Time (GST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Mon, 28 Dec | Kandahar Warriors (A) | 7:30 PM | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| 5 | Thu, 31 Dec | Akcel United Kabul (A) | 7:30 PM | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| 8 | Sat, 2 Jan | Team Balkh (H) | 3:30 PM | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| 10 | Sun, 3 Jan | Team Paktia (H) | 7:30 PM | Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah |
| 12 | Tue, 5 Jan | Kandahar Warriors (H) | 7:30 PM | Dubai International Stadium, Dubai |
| 15 | Fri, 8 Jan | Akcel United Kabul (H) | 3:30 PM | Dubai International Stadium, Dubai |
| 18 | Sat, 9 Jan | Team Balkh (A) | 7:30 PM | Dubai International Stadium, Dubai |
| 20 | Mon, 11 Jan | Team Paktia (A) | 7:30 PM | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
Team Paktia (PAK) — Captain: Rahmanullah Gurbaz
| Match | Date | Opponent (H/A) | Time (GST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun, 27 Dec | Team Balkh (H) | 7:30 PM | Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah |
| 3 | Tue, 29 Dec | Akcel United Kabul (H) | 7:30 PM | Dubai International Stadium, Dubai |
| 6 | Fri, 1 Jan | Kandahar Warriors (A) | 3:30 PM | Dubai International Stadium, Dubai |
| 10 | Sun, 3 Jan | Nangarhar Cosmic (A) | 7:30 PM | Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah |
| 11 | Mon, 4 Jan | Team Balkh (A) | 7:30 PM | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| 13 | Wed, 6 Jan | Akcel United Kabul (A) | 7:30 PM | Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah |
| 16 | Fri, 8 Jan | Kandahar Warriors (H) | 7:30 PM | Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah |
| 20 | Mon, 11 Jan | Nangarhar Cosmic (H) | 7:30 PM | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
H marks a home game and A an away game under the tentative schedule.
APL 2026-27 Venues
The 2026-27 season is hosted entirely in the United Arab Emirates, a long-standing home for Afghan cricket. The Afghanistan Cricket Board will confirm the exact grounds closer to the tournament; the three established UAE international venues below are the expected hosts and are used in the tentative schedule above.
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
The oldest and most iconic of the UAE grounds, with a capacity of around 16,000. Sharjah has hosted more international matches than any other stadium in the world and staged the inaugural APL in 2018. Its short, square boundaries make it a ground where spinners and clever death bowling matter, and where big hitting is always in play.
Dubai International Stadium, Dubai
The largest of the three, seating around 25,000, and known for its distinctive ‘Ring of Fire’ floodlight canopy. A regular host of major UAE cricket, it offers true surfaces and a big-match atmosphere under lights, well suited to the marquee fixtures and playoffs.
Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
The capital’s international ground, with a capacity of around 20,000, formerly known as Sheikh Zayed Stadium. A frequent home for Afghanistan’s own internationals, it tends to offer balanced conditions with help for both seam and spin as pitches wear.
| Venue | City | Approx. Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Sharjah Cricket Stadium | Sharjah | 16,000 |
| Dubai International Stadium | Dubai | 25,000 |
| Zayed Cricket Stadium | Abu Dhabi | 20,000 |
Capacities are approximate and venues are the expected hosts; the ACB will confirm the official venue list closer to the season.
APL 2026-27 Schedule FAQs
When does the APL 2026-27 schedule start?
The Afghanistan Premier League 2026-27 begins on 27 December 2026 in the UAE. The full fixture will be confirmed by the Afghanistan Cricket Board closer to the tournament; the schedule shown here is tentative.
How many matches are in the APL 2026-27?
A tentative 24 matches: 20 in the league stage, where each of the five teams plays eight games in a double round-robin, followed by four playoff fixtures (Qualifier 1, the Eliminator, Qualifier 2 and the Final).
How many games does each team play?
Eight league matches each, playing every other franchise twice, before the top four advance to the playoffs.
Where is the APL 2026-27 played?
Entirely in the United Arab Emirates. The expected venues are Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Dubai International Stadium and Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, with the official list confirmed by the ACB nearer the start.
What time do APL 2026-27 matches start?
Most matches are expected in the evening at 7:30 PM Gulf time, with afternoon games at 3:30 PM on double-header days. Timings are set in the official schedule.
When is the APL 2026-27 final?
The final date is not yet confirmed. Based on a late-December start and a five-team double round-robin plus playoffs, it is expected in mid-January 2027.
Is this the official APL schedule?
No. This is a tentative schedule built on the confirmed 27 December start and a standard double round-robin format. It will be replaced with the official ACB fixture once released.
Which teams play in the APL 2026-27?
Akcel United Kabul, Team Balkh, Kandahar Warriors, Nangarhar Cosmic and Team Paktia, captained by Azmatullah Omarzai, Ibrahim Zadran, Rashid Khan, Rahmat Shah and Rahmanullah Gurbaz respectively.
Last updated 14 November 2026