Afghanistan Limits Players to Three Foreign Leagues Annually

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has implemented a restrictive new policy limiting its players to participating in just three international T20 leagues per year, alongside their mandatory participation in the board's new franchise-based Afghanistan Premier League. The policy, approved at the ACB's annual general meeting in Kabul, represents a significant shift in how the board manages player availability and workload.

Protecting Player Welfare

The ACB justified the decision on player welfare grounds, citing concerns about fitness and mental health. The statement emphasized: "To protect player fitness and mental well-being, the board approved a new policy regarding foreign leagues. Players will now be permitted to participate in the Afghanistan Premier League (APL), plus only three other international leagues."

The policy carries substantial financial implications for in-demand T20 players like Rashid Khan, who has historically maximized earnings by participating in multiple global T20 franchises. The restriction will force elite Afghanistan players to be more selective about league participation, potentially reducing their annual income while prioritizing national team commitments and the domestic APL.

The Afghanistan Premier League, scheduled to commence around October 2026 in the UAE, represents the ACB's flagship domestic competition. By limiting foreign league participation, the board aims to ensure adequate player availability and investment in the new franchise model.

This policy reflects broader trends across cricket boards seeking to balance player commercialization with national team requirements. While the restriction may impact individual player earnings, it signals the ACB's commitment to building a sustainable domestic league ecosystem and protecting player welfare in an increasingly crowded T20 calendar.