England Cricketers Cleared for Afghanistan Premier League T20

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-10-01

### ECB Opens the Door for English Players The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has decided to issue No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for English cricketers who want to play in the new Afghanistan Premier League (APL) T20 tournament. The five-team competition is set to launch in the United Arab Emirates on December 27, 2026. This move comes even though the ECB has been reluctant to schedule bilateral series against Afghanistan. Once the International Cricket Council (ICC) gives official sanction, the ECB will allow individual players to join the league. The board treats player availability for overseas franchise competitions separately from its stance on direct international matches against Afghanistan. This means top English players can take part in the APL while the ECB continues to boycott two-nation series due to the Taliban's restrictions on women. ### A Clear Policy for Franchise Cricket The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) runs the new league alongside commercial promoters Trans Group and ITW Universe. The organizers plan to stage five teams in the inaugural season in the UAE, with long-term plans to hold future matches at Kabul International Cricket Stadium. Earlier, the Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) requested official guidance on NOCs as the ECB does not schedule bilateral series against Afghanistan. The ECB said it would treat the APL as any other overseas franchise event. The December scheduling window does not conflict with the English domestic summer season. Two years ago, English players fought an ECB move to tighten NOC rules for summer leagues that clash. The present December timing avoids domestic fixture clashes and gives a clean administrative approval for registered players. ### Star Players Enter the Draft The organizers postponed the APL player draft from September 27 to October 24, 2026. A number of leading English cricketers put their names down before the deadline. Batsman Ollie Pope and fast bowler Luke Wood are both on ECB central contracts for 2025-26. The central contract terms mention that the players need a formal ECB NOC approval before they can compete. Other major English names in the draft include Moeen Ali, Jason Roy, Reece Topley, James Vince, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, and Laurie Evans. Other countries' international players have also entered the draft pool. Scottish cricketer Brandon McMullen and Irish player Jai Moondra are among the international entrants looking for selection. > "We treat the APL as we would any other overseas franchise event. The December window makes it straightforward for players to get approval." – ECB spokesperson ### The Divide Between Internationals and Franchise Leagues The ECB is firmly opposed to private franchise leagues and to formal bilateral agreements. The board refuses to schedule a direct two-nation series against Afghanistan because of the Taliban government's ban on women and girls playing cricket. But the ECB policy leaves it to each individual player to decide whether or not to play for a franchise. England last met Afghanistan in the 2025 Champions Trophy in Lahore, Pakistan. Afghanistan won the match by eight runs to knock England out of the tournament. Ahead of that game, 200 Members of Parliament signed a cross-party letter urging the ECB to boycott the fixture. Demonstrators also gathered outside London's Lord's Cricket Ground. Richard Thompson, the head of the ECB, called the "appalling oppression" of women in Afghanistan "gender apartheid." Thompson called for a global coordinated response from international cricket authorities, not a one-nation boycott. ### What This Means for the Tournament With the ECB's NOC policy, the APL gains credibility and star power. English players can earn valuable T20 experience in a competitive environment. The tournament will be played in the UAE, with matches likely broadcast to a global audience. For fans, it's a chance to see some of England's best in action during the winter months. The APL's inaugural season promises to be an exciting addition to the cricket calendar.