The Afghanistan Cricket Board’s Domestic Cricket Department successfully conducted the first tournament of this year’s domestic cricket events. The Afghanistan Cricket Board has a very busy and match-packed domestic cricket calendar every year, which provides excellent opportunities for young domestic players and emerging talents to shine and progress. These opportunities are not limited to players from nearby provinces and regions; rather, any player who has a strong passion for cricket and possesses ability and hidden skills in the game can get a chance to emerge in these competitions through club level cricket.
The first step in the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s domestic cricket pathway is the annual club-level competitions, which are held in almost all provinces of the country. These competitions are organized in each province by ACB’s provincial representatives among local registered clubs and are conducted in a very good manner. The opening of the matches and the ceremony to announce the champion team are covered through the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s Domestic Cricket social media platforms. In these competitions, each club gets the opportunity to play four matches. Accordingly, players who perform well in batting and bowling are selected for their provincial teams to take part in the Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan Provincial Grade II Tournament. However, any player who performs strongly at the club level but does not secure a place in their own provincial team is assigned to teams from other provinces so that all talented players can have equal opportunities to play.
Inter-Club
Level Cricket, the Entrance to Official Cricket:
The
Afghanistan Cricket Board Selection Committee first identifies the best and
most outstanding players from the club-level competitions and, in order to find
quality and professional players for the Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan Grade II Provincial Tournament, conducts a
physical fitness (Yo-Yo) test for them. Players who perform well and
successfully pass the physical fitness test are guaranteed participation in the
Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan Grade II Provincial Tournament.
This year as well, club-level provincial competitions were held in all provinces where at least five clubs were officially registered with the Afghanistan Cricket Board. The provinces where club-level matches were conducted and whose teams participated in the Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan Grade II Provincial Competitions were: Faryab, Nangarhar, Balkh, Samangan, Kabul, Logar, Badakhshan, Kunar, Jowzjan, Zabul, Maidan Wardak, Uruzgan, Khost, Ghazni, Kunduz, Takhar, Laghman, Parwan, Baghlan, Farah, Kapisa, Paktika, Nimroz, Helmand, Paktia, Sar-e-Pul, Kandahar, Herat, and Nuristan.
Wazir Mohammad
Akbar Khan Provincial Grade II Tournament, Its Structure, Combination and the
Best Players:
In the Wazir
Mohammad Akbar Khan Grade II Provincial Competitions, in addition to teams from
these 29 provinces, provinces with a higher number of cricket players and registered
clubs were allocated more than one team by the Afghanistan Cricket Board.
Accordingly, Kandahar was given two teams, Nangarhar and Khost were each given
three teams, and Kabul province was given six teams. The Afghanistan Cricket
Board stated that due to the large number of officially registered cricket
clubs in these provinces, it was necessary to increase the number of teams
representing them in the Grade II Provincial Competitions.
The Wazir
Mohammad Akbar Khan Grade II Provincial Competitions, which were once again
held this year in four provinces; Kunar, Nangarhar, Kandahar, and Khost featured
the participation of 40 teams. All 40 teams were divided into eight groups,
with each team playing four matches. According to the annual schedule of the Afghanistan
Cricket Board’s Domestic Cricket Department, the tournament began on January 11 and concluded on January 31.
As a result of
these competitions, the top team from each group qualified for the Wazir
Mohammad Akbar Khan Grade I Provincial Tournament by securing the highest number of points. The
qualifying teams were: Faryab from Group A after winning all four matches;
Kabul from Group B with three wins; Kabul A from Group C with four wins; Khost
from Group D with four wins; Khost A from Group E with four wins; Kunduz from
Group F with four wins; Helmand from Group G with four wins; and Nangarhar A
from Group H with three wins.
Once again, a
number of young and emerging players progressed from the Wazir Mohammad Akbar
Khan Grade II Provincial Tournament to the Grade I Provincial Tournament. Among
the standout batters and bowlers who delivered excellent performances and
finished among the top ten players in the Grade II Provincial Tournament were:
Khalid Tanewal, who topped the batting chart with 372 runs; Barakzai Nasiri
with 322 runs in second place; Ejaz-ul-Haq Noorzai with 321 runs in third;
Zafar Alozai with 316 runs in fourth; Subhan Ali with 315 runs in fifth; Yousuf
Shah with 306 runs in sixth; Asif Shah with 276 runs in seventh; Asghar Atal
with 263 runs in eighth; Mohammad Bashir with 254 runs in ninth; and Sadiq Shah
with 242 runs in tenth place.
In the bowling
department, Ismatullah Habibi led the chart with 15 wickets, followed by Nauman
with 14 wickets in second place, Irfanullah Safi with 14 wickets in third, Azim
Zadran with 13 wickets in fourth, Bakht Mohammad Tokhi with 12 wickets in
fifth, Rehanuddin with 12 wickets in sixth, Amanullah Kunari with 11 wickets in
seventh, Sami Mubarez with 11 wickets in eighth, Khayal Mohammad with 10 wickets
in ninth, and Qamar Shams with 10 wickets in tenth place.
All players who delivered outstanding performances in both batting and bowling during the Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan Grade II Provincial Competitions were selected for the Grade I Provincial Tournament. According to the Afghanistan Cricket Board Selection Committee, selection was based not only on the number of runs scored and wickets taken, but also on batting strike rates and the bowling economy of bowlers.
Wazir Mohammad
Akbar Khan Provincial Grade I Tournament, Its Structure, Combination and the
Best Players:
Continuing the
domestic cricket season, the Afghanistan Cricket Board conducted the Wazir
Mohammad Akbar Khan Grade I Provincial Tournament from February 10 to 24 at two
venues each in Kandahar and Nangarhar provinces. A total of 12 teams
participated in these competitions, competing against one another in two
groups. Of these, eight teams qualified from the Grade II Provincial Tournament,
while four additional teams were included by the Afghanistan Cricket Board to
accommodate talented players whose provincial teams were unable to qualify for
the Grade I Tournament.
In the Grade I
Provincial Tournament, the ACB XI team emerged as champions after defeating
Kabul A in the final and claiming the tournament trophy. From the two groups,
Khost A and ACB XI II qualified from Group A, while Kabul A and ACB XI advanced
from Group B to reach the semifinals. In the semifinals, ACB XI secured their
place in the final by defeating Khost A and Kabul A secured the final spot by
beating ACB XI II.
A large number
of young talents also emerged from the Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan Grade I
Provincial Tournament and went on to qualify for the Mirwais Nika Three-Day Tournament
and the National T2O Tournament (Named Wakhan for 2025). Some of the standout
performers from the Grade I Provincial Tournament were as following:
In the batting
category, Usman Sadat finished first with 381 runs, followed by Tariq Stanikzai
with 317 runs in second place, Hassan Isa Khail with 296 runs in third, Aimal
Shaheen with 283 runs in fourth, Noor-ur-Rahman with 273 runs in fifth, Bilal
Ahmad Tarin with 246 runs in sixth, Shaukat Zaman with 234 runs in seventh,
Mohammad Haroon with 225 runs in eighth, Yousuf Shah with 218 runs in ninth,
and Khalid Tannaiwal with 211 runs in tenth place.
In the bowling
department of the Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan Grade I Provincial Tournament,
Tariq Stanikzai topped the list with 14 wickets, Arab Gul Momand secured second
place with 14 wickets, Mohibullah Hamraz claimed third with 13 wickets,
Mohammadullah Logari finished fourth with 12 wickets, Irfanullah Safi placed
fifth with 12 wickets, Izhar-ul-Haq Naveed ranked sixth with 12 wickets, Azim
Zadran took seventh with 11 wickets, Kamil Kakar finished eighth with 11
wickets, Abdullah Ahmadzai claimed ninth with 10 wickets, and Mohammad Dawood
secured tenth place with 10 wickets.
It is worth noting that, similar to the Grade II Provincial Tournament, players from the Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan Grade I Provincial Tournament who not only scored the most runs and took the most wickets but also demonstrated strong batting strike rates and economical bowling figures were selected for the Mirwais Nika Three-Day Tournament and the National T20 Cup Competitions.
Mirwais Nika
Three-Day Tournament, Its First Conduct in Helmand, Media Coverage and Best
Players:
As part of the
domestic cricket pathway, the Mirwais Nika Three-Day Tournament was held for
the first time in the southwestern province of Helmand as well as in Kandahar
province. This tournament, which is held annually among teams representing the
country’s five zones, have the sole objective of identifying strong and
talented players for the Ahmad Shah Baba Abdali four-day First-Class cricket.
Teams participating in the Mirwais Nika Three-Day Competitions included Boost,
Band-e-Amir, Mis-e-Ainak, Amo, and Spinghar. Players for these teams were
selected from those who had excelled in the Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan Grade I
Provincial Tournament, following the successful completion of physical fitness
(Yo-Yo) tests.
The 2025
edition of the Mirwais Nika Three-Day Tournament began on April 8 and concluded
on April 26. In these matches, the Spin Ghar team claimed first place by
securing 55 points.
Many young
players impressed during the Mirwais Nika Three-Day Tournament and progressed
to the Ahmad Shah Abdali four-day First-Class cricket. Some of the leading batters
and top wicket-takers in this tournament were as follows:
In batting,
Mohammad Haroon Khan finished first with 496 runs, Mohammad Asif Mousa Zai came
second with 426 runs, Hassan Isa Khail ranked third with 377 runs, Yousuf Shah
took fourth with 351 runs, Asghar Atal finished fifth with 331 runs, Barakzai
Nasiri secured sixth with 324 runs, Allah Noor Nasiri placed seventh with 321
runs, Ali Ahmad Naser finished eighth with 303 runs, Naveed Obaid ranked ninth
with 299 runs, and Kamal Khan took tenth place with 289 runs.
In bowling, Aqeel Khan led the standings with 16 wickets, followed by Abdul Baqi Popal in second place with 16 wickets, Naseer Khan in third with 13 wickets, Abuzar Safi in fourth with 13 wickets, Mohammad Hadi in fifth with 12 wickets, Izhar-ul-Haq Naveed in sixth with 11 wickets, Mohibullah Zurmatai in seventh with 11 wickets, Mohammadullah Logari in eighth with 10 wickets, Abdullah Ahmadzai in ninth with 10 wickets, and Naseem Mangal in tenth with 10 wickets.
Ahmad Shah
Abdali First Class (Four-Day) Tournament:
Following the
conclusion of the Mirwais Nika Three-Day Tournament, the top-performing batters
and bowlers from these matches were selected for Afghanistan’s significant
domestic tournaments as Ahmad Shah Abdali First-Class and List A. The
Afghanistan Cricket Board Selection Committee initially shortlisted these
players based on their strong overall performances, economical bowling figures,
and effective batting strike rates, after which they were required to
successfully pass the physical fitness (Yo-Yo) test.
As part of
the domestic cricket pathway, the eighth edition of the Ahmad Shah Abdali
First-Class (four-day) tournament was held this year among four teams:
Hindukush Strikers, Maiwand Champions, Mahipar Stars, and Pamir Legends. The
tournament commenced on May 5 and concluded on June 19, with Maiwand Champions
winning the title. The matches were hosted at the Ghazi Amanullah Khan and
Najibullah Tarakai cricket grounds in Nangarhar province. Each team played two
matches against every other team, completing six matches in total. Maiwand
Champions secured the championship by winning three matches and accumulating 89
points.
This season’s
Ahmad Shah Abdali First-Class competition also featured national team players
alongside emerging young domestic cricketers, creating an excellent opportunity
for mentorship, skill development, and experience sharing. Players from the
national team, A team, Under-19 team, and domestic circuit all featured
prominently.
Among the
standout batters of the First-Class tournament, Shahidullah Kamal topped the
list with 541 runs, followed by Hashmatullah Shahidi with 495 runs second,
Rahmanullah Zadran with 476 runs third, Afsar Zazai with 474 runs fourth,
Darwish Rasooli with 441 runs fifth, Abdul Malik with 439 runs sixth, Asif Musazai
with 433 runs seventh, Yousuf Shah with 430 runs eighth, Shaukat Zaman with 386
runs nineth, and Noor Rahman with 336 runs on tenth position.
In the
bowling category, Sharafuddin Ashraf led the chart with 36 wickets. He was
followed by Yamin Ahmadzai with 26 wickets, Zia-ur-Rahman Akbar third with 25
wickets, Bashir Ahmad Afghan also with 25 wickets fourth, Khalil Gurbaz with 23
wickets fifth, Qais Ahmad with 19 wickets sixth, Nangyal Kharoti with 19
wickets seventh, Zahir Khan Pakteen with 19 wickets eighth, Zia-ur-Rahman
Sharifi with 16 wickets nineth, and Ibrahim Sharifi with 16 wickets on tenth
position.
It is worth noting that following their outstanding performances in the Ahmad Shah Abdali First-Class competition, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Bashir Ahmad Afghan, Khalil Gurbaz, Qais Ahmad, Zia-ur-Rahman Sharifi, Shahidullah Kamal, and Bahir Shah Mahboob were selected for Afghanistan’s national Test team.
Wakhan
National T20 Tournament, Its Media Coverage and Best Players:
Within this
busy domestic schedule, the National T20 Cup tournament of this year was held
under the name of Wakhan National T20 Cup tournament in Kunduz province,
featuring four strong teams. The tournament began on June 28 and concluded on
July 7, with Hindukush Strikers winning the title. Hindukush Strikers qualified
for the final unbeaten with 12 points, while Pamir Legends reached the final
with three wins and six points.
The Wakhan
National T20 Tournament, which was held as second edition this year, aimed to
identify and prepare talented players for the Shpageeza Cricket League. The
tournament included standout players from the Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan Grade I
Provincial Tournament, as well as players from the national, Under-19, and A
teams.
Among the top
batters of the Wakhan National T20 Cup Tournament, Zubaid Akbari finished first
with 167 runs, Mohammad Haroon second with 165 runs, Farmanullah Safi third
with 162 runs, Mohammad Ishaq fourth with 165 runs, Mohammad Shahzad fifth with
153 runs, Samiullah Shinwari sixth with 147 runs, Wafiullah Tarakhail seventh
with 137 runs, Imran Mir eighth with 136 runs, Asif Mousa Zai ninth with 119
runs, and Khalid Tannaiwal tenth with 117 runs.
In bowling,
Yama Arab led with 11 wickets, followed by Bilal Sami with 11 wickets, Arab Gul
Momand third, with 10 wickets, Azim Zadran fourth with 9 wickets, Faridoon
Dawoodzai fifth with 9 wickets, Salim Safi sixth with 9 wickets, Dawlat Zadran seventh
with 8 wickets, Mohammadullah Logari eighth with 8 wickets, Abdullah Tarakhel
ninth with 8 wickets, and Khalil Ahmad tenth with 7 wickets.
All standout
performers from the Wakhan National T20 Cup went on to feature on the big stage
of the Shpageeza Cricket League, where several young players attracted
widespread attention through their impressive performances. Notably, Khalid Tannaiwal
scored a century, while Noor Rahman recorded the fastest century in the history
of the Shpageeza Cricket League, reaching the milestone in just 40 balls.
Shpageeza T20
Cricket League, Emerging Talents and Achievements:
Afghanistan’s mega domestic tournament, the Shpageeza Cricket League, was held once again at the Kabul Cricket Ground. The Amo Sharks claimed the 10th edition title for the second consecutive time, defeating Mis-e-Ainak Champions by eight wickets in the final. Beyond being a major source of entertainment for cricket fans, the league continues to serve as a pathway for domestic players to progress to the national team and international cricket.
The Shpageeza
Cricket League is held among five regional teams as Bost Defenders, Amo Sharks,
Mis-e-Ainak Champions, Spinghar Tigers, and Band-e-Amir Dragons. Alongside
national team players, top domestic cricketers also participate. This year
again, several young players progressed from the Wakhan National T20 Cup into
the Shpageeza League and impressed fans with their performances.
Each team in
the Shpageeza Cricket League plays the others twice, with the top two teams on
the points table qualifying for the final. The Afghanistan Cricket Board
increased the number of matches in the league to ensure greater playing
opportunities for both national players and emerging domestic talents.
In the
batting charts of this year’s Shpageeza Cricket League, Hashmatullah Shahidi
finished first with 321 runs, followed by Sediqullah Atal with 308 runs second,
Wafiullah Tarakhail third with 298 runs, Imran Mir with 296 runs fourth,
Mohammad Akram with 290 runs fifth, Khalid Tannaiwal with 279 runs sixth, Karim
Janat with 255 runs seventh, Hassan Isa Khail with 228 runs eighth, Darwish
Rasooli with 217 runs nineth, and Rahmat Shah Zurmatai with 205 runs on tenth
position.
In bowling, Sharafuddin Ashraf topped the list with 14 wickets, followed by Mujeeb Ur Rahman with 13 wickets second, Khalil Gurbaz with 11 wickets third, Zahir Khan Pakteen with 10 wickets fourth, Abdullah Ahmadzai with 9 wickets fifth, Arab Gul Momand with 9 wickets sixth, Farmanullah Safi with 9 wickets seventh, Zubaid Akbari with 8 wickets eighth, Abdul Rahman with 8 wickets nineth, and Gulbadin Naib with 8 wickets on tenth position.
Ghazi Amanullah Khan List A (One-Day) Cricket
Tournament:
According to
the annual schedule, the eighth edition of the List A one-day tournament was
also successfully conducted among the five regional teams. Hosted in Khost
province, the tournament began on August 20 and concluded on September 6, with
the Mis-e-Ainak team winning the title after defeating Band-e-Amir team by five
wickets in the final.
The List A
competition featured national, Under-19, national A, contracted domestic
players, and several young players from the Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan Grade I
Provincial Tournament, many of whom participated at this level for the first
time. These tournaments continue to play a vital role in strengthening the
talent pool for Afghanistan’s national cricket teams.
Among the
standout performers of this year’s List A one-day tournament, a large number of
young players shone alongside national team players, delivering strong
performances in both batting and bowling. The top ten run-scorers of the eighth
edition of the List A competition were as follows:
Rahmat Shah
Zurmatai ranked first with 424 runs, Hashmatullah Shahidi second with 377 runs,
Naveed Obaid third with 318 runs, Shahidullah Kamal fourth with 315 runs, Riyaz
Hassan fifth with 279 runs, Hassan Isa Khail sixth with 249 runs, Bahir Shah
Mahboob seventh with 236 runs, Ejaz Ahmadzai eighth with 224 runs, Barakzai Nasiri
ninth with 221 runs, and Afsar Zazai finished tenth with 219 runs.
In the bowling department, Zahir Khan Pakteen claimed first place with 20 wickets. Yamin Ahmadzai, Khalil Gurbaz, and Farmanullah Safi secured second, third, and fourth positions respectively. Mohammad Ibrahim Sharifi and Bilal Sami finished fifth and sixth. Faridoon Dawoodzai, Zia-ur-Rahman Sharifi, and Qais Ahmad ranked seventh, eighth, and ninth, while Azim Zadran took tenth place with seven wickets.
Najibullah
Tarakai PWDs Tournament:
Within the
framework of domestic cricket events, the Afghanistan Cricket Board also
planned tournaments for Afghan disabled cricketers. Previously, the Najibullah
Tarakai PWDs (Players with Disabilities) T20 Tournament was held once a year;
however, this year it was organized twice, and going forward it will continue
to be held twice annually. Outstanding and standout players from these tournaments
are eligible to receive six-month contracts with the Afghanistan Cricket Board.
The first
round of this year’s Najibullah Tarakai PWDs T20 Competition was held in Khost
province. Teams from the country’s five regions participated, with matches
beginning on May 7 and concluding on May 15. In the final, the Spinghar team
defeated the Amo team to claim the championship trophy. Each team played four
matches, ensuring that every player had the opportunity to feature in at least
three or more games.
In the
Najibullah Tarakai PWDs T20 Tournament, which featured national team players
and leading domestic cricketers, several young stars performed impressively and
earned six-month contracts with the Afghanistan Cricket Board. Among the
standout batters, Shamo Afghan ranked first with 200 runs, Farooq Zadran second
with 187 runs, Qudratullah third with 166 runs, Abdul Wakeel fourth with 135
runs, and Hashmatullah finished fifth with 134 runs. In bowling, Abdullah
Asmati led with 13 wickets, followed by Zahidullah with nine wickets second,
Shahid Quraishi with nine wickets third, Abdul Mohammad with nine wickets
fourth, and Hizbullah with eight wickets fifth.
It is worth
noting that the second round of the Najibullah Tarakai PWDs T20 Tournament was
also held during the current year, with the Bost team winning the title. The
second-round matches began on November 3 in Kandahar province and concluded on
November 9.
Five teams
participated in the second round, with all teams competing against each other
in a single group. Bost qualified for the final by winning four consecutive
matches, while the Mis-e-Ainak team advanced with three victories. In the
final, Bost defeated Mis-e-Ainak by five runs after a thrilling and closely
contested match to lift the championship trophy.
In the second
round as well, young players alongside national team members delivered strong
performances. In batting, Qudratullah topped the charts with 189 runs, followed
by Zakeem Khan with 159 runs second, Sainullah with 157 runs third,
Mohammadullah with 150 runs fourth, and Nabiullah with 137 runs fifth. In
bowling, Abdullah Lewal, Adnan Khan, Akhtar Nabi, and Wisal Wafa secured first
through fourth positions respectively, while Shafiullah finished fifth with
seven wickets.
According to
the annual schedule of the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s Domestic Cricket
Department, domestic cricketers will continue to have a structured and busy
calendar in 2026. Through this system, top-performing players will progress
further, and in addition to reaching the national team, some players will also
earn annual contracts based on their strong performances.
During the current year, the Domestic Cricket Department successfully conducted club-level competitions, the Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan Grade II and Grade I tournaments, the Mirwais Nika Three-Day Tournament, National T20 Cup, the Ahmad Shah Baba Abdali First-Class Tournament, the Shpageeza T20 Cricket League, and the List A one-day tournament. It should be noted that the Najibullah Tarakai PWDs Tournament will continue to be held in two editions every year on a regular basis.
Facilities for
Players in Domestic Cricket Events:
The
Afghanistan Cricket Board not only works to identify young and hidden talents
within the country, but also plays a leading role in providing financial
support to players across all formats of domestic cricket. In the Wazir
Mohammad Akbar Khan Grade II Provincial Tournament and the Najibullah Tarakai PWDs
T20 Tournament, the Afghanistan Cricket Board provides players with travel
expenses along with a daily allowance of 1,000 Afghanis.
Following the Grade
I Provincial Tournament, players participating in the Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan
Grade I Provincial Tournament, Mirwais Nika Three-Day Tournament, National T20 Cup,
Shpageeza T20 Cricket League, List A one-day Tournament, and the Ahmad Shah
Abdali First-Class Tournament are provided with travel allowances and a daily
allowance of 1,000 Afghanis. In addition, match fees are allocated for each
match across different formats and categories. As a result, if a player
consistently participates in these tournaments throughout the year, they can
earn more than one million Afghanis annually.
Furthermore,
the Afghanistan Cricket Board appoints professional match officials, qualified
coaches, professional fitness trainers, scorers, medical doctors, team
managers, and event managers across all domestic cricket formats. This ensures
that all matches are conducted with full professionalism and high quality,
while providing comprehensive facilities and support to players at all times.
At the same time, during all events, the Afghanistan Cricket Board fully covers players’ accommodation, breakfast and lunch on match days, as well as all medical treatment expenses. This allows players to perform with complete physical and mental comfort and confidently showcase their potential on the field.
Media Coverage:
To further
enhance the standard and quality of domestic cricket, the Afghanistan Cricket
Board has consistently aimed to broadcast all domestic cricket formats live for
fans, ensuring that genuine talent is recognized and brought forward. In this
regard, during the current year, the Afghanistan Cricket Board broadcast the
Wakhan National T20 Cup, the Ahmad Shah Abdali First-Class four-day Tournament,
the List A one-day Tournament, and the Shpageeza Cricket T20 League live on
television with high production quality.
In addition to live broadcasts, the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s Media Department remains fully engaged across all cricket formats. Comprehensive coverage of each match is regularly published through the Board’s official social media platforms as well as on its website. On match days, coverage includes players’ training sessions and preparations prior to the match, the toss, playing XIs, graphics, first-innings details and results, individual player performances, and high-quality videos and images of centuries, half-centuries, and five-wicket hauls. Moreover, following each match, the Media Department publishes a detailed match report on the official website, providing cricket fans with timely and accurate information.
Importance of
Domestic Cricket:
Domestic
cricket in Afghanistan serves as the backbone of the country’s national teams,
as it consistently produces strong and talented players. Many players have
progressed from domestic cricket to the national teams and are now considered
key members. Notable national and international stars who emerged through
domestic cricket include Rashid Khan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran,
Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Zia-ur-Rahman Sharifi, Bashir
Ahmad Afghan, Ismat Alam, and many others who earned their places in the
national squads through consistent performances in domestic competitions.
These domestic
events are not only designed to produce players for the national teams.
Hundreds of players participate in these tournaments and, alongside their
cricket development, use them as a source of income to support their families.
Additionally, domestic competitions bring together experienced domestic players
and national team players, enabling young cricketers to benefit from
international experience, learn professionalism, and develop the skills
required to compete at the highest levels.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board continuously strives to give special attention to domestic events by focusing on quality, effective organization, and comprehensive player facilities. Through this approach, the Board aims to develop capable and skilled players for the national teams while further expanding the game of cricket, ensuring that the bat and ball reach every remote street, village, and Afghan child across the country.
Conclusion and
Summary:
The
Afghanistan Cricket Board’s domestic cricket structure, implemented with a high
level of transparency, continues to produce talented young players each year
whose abilities shine clearly and enable them to progress to major domestic
competitions such as the Ahmad Shah Abdali First-Class Tournament, List A
one-day tournament, and the Shpageeza T20 Cricket League. This year as well,
many young players advanced through this pathway and reached these major
tournaments.
Among the
players who, for the first time, progressed from the Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan Grade
II level to higher events are: Mohibullah Hamraz, Lutfullah, Mubeen Khan, and
Asif Shah (to the Shpageeza League and List A); Kamal Khan, Jawad Ali, Bilal
Yaqoobi, Kamran Mukhlis, Azim Zadran, Rahmat Terawal, Qamar Shams, and Abdul
Zahoor Khan (to List A); Aqeel Khan, Abuzar Safi, Younis Zadran, and Kamal Khan
(to the Ahmad Shah Abdali First-Class); and Barakzai Nasiri (to both List A and
Ahmad Shah Abdali First-Class Tournaments).
The rise of
these domestic cricket talents to higher levels clearly demonstrates the
Afghanistan Cricket Board’s commitment to identifying genuine talent within the
country and maintaining transparency and quality throughout the development pathway.
Beyond organizing competitions, the Board has established cricket academies and
constructed standard cricket grounds in numerous provinces to discover and
nurture emerging talent. This approach continues to supply major domestic
competitions with new young stars and prepare them effectively for the national
teams.