The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) says the ninth edition of the Ahmad Shah Abdali First-Class Competition will begin on August 29 in Khost and Nangarhar provinces and continue until October 8.
Four teams — Maiwand Champions, Mahipar Stars, Pamir Legends and Hindukush Strikers — will participate in the tournament. In the opening match, defending champions Maiwand Champions will face Mahipar Stars.
According to the schedule, each team will play the other teams twice, completing six matches in total. The top two teams at the end of the competition will qualify for the final, which is scheduled to begin on October 4.
The ACB says a number of national-team players, along with several prominent and in-form domestic cricketers, will take part in the tournament.
Some players from the Afghanistan A team will also feature in the first two matches before travelling to Japan to participate in the 2026 Asian Games. They will then be replaced by a number of young domestic players who will continue to compete alongside national-team players.
According to the ACB, the Ahmad Shah Abdali First-Class Competition is an important part of Afghanistan’s domestic cricket structure and plays a significant role in developing long-format cricket and nurturing players in the country.
