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In the latest decision taken by Afghanistan Cricket board top Afghanistan players such can play a maximum of three franchise leagues abroad per year. They also have to be available for the domestic competition as per a new policy approved by the Afghanistan Cricket Board. Currently in the T20 leagues across the world we see plenty of Afghanistan players as overseas players and this new rules will mean there could be some implications for a few players.
The decision was taken at the board's annual general meeting in Kabul on Wednesday "To protect player fitness and mental well-being. This measure aims to manage workload and ensure peak performance for national duties," ACB Statement said. Additionally all the players should be available for the five-team Afghanistan Premier League slated to launch around October 2026 in the United Arab Emirates. One of the most popular player Rashid Khan plays franchise cricket in India, the UAE, the United States, South Africa and England. So this rule might mean he might be asked to skip a few leagues.
Other prominent players who are part of multiple leagues include the likes of Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and spinner AM Ghazanfar along with Gulbadin Naib. In the past we have seen Afghanistan players miss domestic competition due to the commitments in leagues but ACB has brought this new rules to make players give more priority to the domestic cricket.
There are already a few boards who are following this rule. Pakistan restricts centrally contracted players to two overseas leagues outside the Pakistan Super League, while India does not allow its contracted male cricket to participate in any league abroad unless they are retired completely.
