The Afghanistan Premier League is a new, five-team Twenty20 competition, to be played in Sharjah over the course of the next three weeks.
It involves several of the game’s most recognisable players, including Shahid Afridi, Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum, Rashid Khan and Mohammed Shahzad.
“It is a kind of dream,” Rashid, the Afghanistan leg-spinner, said. “Every country has their own league, and finally we have this, thanks to the hard work of the [Afghanistan Cricket Board]. It felt impossible to have it in such a short period of time, but they have done it.”
There is one UAE player involved. Mohammed Naveed, the national team’s fast bowler, will be in action for Kandahar Knights.
Run the ACB, it is being hosted at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, which has played host to the majority of Afghanistan’s “home” international matches in the past.
“We feel proud to be associated with them, and proud they are up in the top 10 teams in the world,” Mazhar Khan, the Sharjah Cricket Council administrator, said.
“Afghanistan has had very good support right from Day 1 in this part of the world. I am sure there will be a lot of crowd to handle.”
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The Cricket Pod
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When
The tournament starts on Friday, October 5. The final is on Saturday, October 20, starting at 8pm.
Where
All the matches will be played at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Tickets
Tickets can be bought online at https://www.q-tickets.com/apl/eventlist and at the box office at the stadium.
Television
The tournament will be broadcast live in the UAE on OSN Sports.
Opening weekend fixtures
Friday, October 5, 8pm: Kabul Zwanan v Paktia Panthers
Saturday, October 6, 4pm: Nangarhar Leopards v Kandahar Knights; 8pm: Kabul Zwanan v Balkh Legends
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Read more:
No corruption in Afghanistan Premier League, organisers predict
Afghanistan Premier League draft cheers up Mohammed Naveed after Asia Cup miss
Vision for Abu Dhabi T20 Trophy to be cricket's own Club World Cup
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The teams
Balkh Legends
Captain: Mohammed Nabi (Afghanistan)
Coach: Simon Helmot (Australia)
Star player: Chris Gayle (West Indies). While the West Indies Test side take on India in Rajkot, their celebrated T20 export will be adding a new shirt to his collection in the APL instead.
Kabul Zwanan
Captain: Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)
Coach: Heath Streak (Zimbabwe)
Star player: Luke Ronchi (New Zealand). The shorter the format, the more destructive the former New Zealand wicket-keeper batsman is. A star of the T10 League in Sharjah last year.
Kanadahar Knights
Captain: Asghar Afghan (Afghanistan)
Coach: Kabir Ali (England)
Star player: Kevin O'Brien (Ireland). Relatively rarely-spotted in T20 franchise leagues, despite having the big-hitting capabilities that brought him the fastest ever World Cup hundred, in 2011.
Nangarhar Leopards
Captain: Ben Cutting (Australia)
Coach: Venkatesh Prasad (India)
Star player: Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan). Andre Russell is perhaps the best-known star of the Nangarhar squad, but 17-year-old spinner Mujeeb could well be their most effective.
Paktia Panthers
Captain: Mohammed Shahzad (Afghanistan)
Coach: Dawlat Ahmadzai (Afghanistan)
Star player: Shahid Afridi (Pakistan). With Shahzad and Afridi in their line-up, Paktia might turn out to be the most explosive and entertaining side in the APL.
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Mobile phone packages comparison
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'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
Rating: 3.5/5
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
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Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Specs
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
Rashid & Rajab
Director: Mohammed Saeed Harib
Stars: Shadi Alfons, Marwan Abdullah, Doaa Mostafa Ragab
Two stars out of five
SCORES
Multiply Titans 81-2 in 12.1 overs
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Specs
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Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
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The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
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The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
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How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
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The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
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The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
Dubai Creek Open in numbers
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