The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has confirmed and adopted a new policy that severely limits their cricketers’ engagement in foreign leagues related to T20 cricket. According to this new doping policy, Afghan cricketer access will be limited to no more than three foreign leagues per year, besides being a part of an upcoming home league competition, which will operate under this board.
This was one of the major decisions that were made during the Annual General Meeting of the ACB in Kabul, marking a new direction in managing the players’ workload and availability.
Focus on Fitness, Mental Health, and National Duty
Quoting an official statement from the ACB, “This policy has been introduced as a measure to ensure the well-being of our players as well as their optimal performance on the international stage.”
“In order to protect player fitness and mental health, the board has adopted a new policy regarding foreign leagues. Players can now participate in Afghan leagues, namely the Afghanistan Premier League (APL), and no more than three other foreign leagues every year,” an email said.
The board explained that the transfer is geared towards workload management as well asoptimized readiness for national duty.
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New Afghanistan Franchise T20 League on the Horizon
Under the long-term plan, the ACB will conduct a league featuring the Twenty20 format for five franchises in, or around, October 2026 at a venue located in the United Arab Emirates. Participation in this league will be compulsory and will be taken into consideration as a fourth overseas league each year. This domestic competition is expected to become the focal point of the calendar of T20 cricket in Afghanistan.
Rashid Khan Among Players Likely to Be Affected
The new restriction could have significant financial implications for Afghanistan’s most in-demand T20 stars most notably Rashid Khan, the highest wicket-taker in T20 cricket history.
Rashid is currently:
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Captain of MI Cape Town in SA20
Important player in MI Emirates (ILT20)
Part of MI New York (Major League Cricket)
One of the strongest players in the Gujarat Titans in IPL
Restricting participation opportunities to only three foreign leagues may make tough decisions for Rashid regarding lucrative offers.
Other Afghan Stars in the Spotlight
A number of other Afghan players who are sought after by international franchises will be directly or indirectly affected by the decision of the Australian Cricket Board (ACB), which include the following players:
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Noor Ahmad
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Mujeeb Ur Rahman
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AM Ghazanfar
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Rahmanullah Gurbaz
In fact, these players are regulars in various leagues across the world. This cap on overseas players now has the potential to lower the number of matches they participate in every year.
ACB Joins Other Boards in Imposing League Limits
The ACB is not alone in enforcing this measure. Other cricket boards have enforced similar measures. For example, the Pakistan Cricket Board, PCB, permits players to engage in no more than two foreign leagues besides participating in the Pakistan Super League, PSL. This reflects the increased focus on national cricket and player longevity.
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