West Indies superstar Chris Gayle will play for Balkh Legends in the inaugural Afghanistan Premier League to be held in Sharjah. Getty Images
West Indies superstar Chris Gayle will play for Balkh Legends in the inaugural Afghanistan Premier League to be held in Sharjah. Getty Images
West Indies superstar Chris Gayle will play for Balkh Legends in the inaugural Afghanistan Premier League to be held in Sharjah. Getty Images
West Indies superstar Chris Gayle will play for Balkh Legends in the inaugural Afghanistan Premier League to be held in Sharjah. Getty Images

Afghanistan Premier League: teams, players, fixtures, tickets and everything else you need to know


Paul Radley
  • English
  • Arabic

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.”

_______________________________________________________________________________

The Cricket Pod

_______________________________________________________________________________

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

___________________

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

___________________

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

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
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Mobile phone packages comparison

THE SPECS

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 275hp at 6,600rpm

Torque: 353Nm from 1,450-4,700rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto

Top speed: 250kph

Fuel consumption: 6.8L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: Dh146,999

'Panga'

Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari

Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta

Rating: 3.5/5

The%C2%A0specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%20synchronous%20electric%20motors%20%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E646hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E830Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETwo-speed%20auto%20(rear%20axle)%3B%20single-speed%20auto%20(front)%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh552%2C311%3B%20Dh660%2C408%20(as%20tested)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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.

Godzilla%20x%20Kong%3A%20The%20New%20Empire
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAdam%20Wingard%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBrian%20Tyree%20Henry%2C%20Rebecca%20Hall%2C%20Dan%20Stevens%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

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
(Tony de Zorzi, 34)

bt Auckland Aces 80 all out in 16 overs
(Shawn von Borg 4-15, Alfred Mothoa 2-11, Tshepo Moreki 2-16).

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

Cinco in numbers

Dh3.7 million

The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown

46

The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.

1,000

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]

50

How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday

3,000

The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.

1.1 million

The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.

Dubai Creek Open in numbers
  • The Dubai Creek Open is the 10th tournament on this year's Mena Tour
  • It is the first of five events before the season-concluding Mena Tour Championship
  • This week's field comprises 120 players, 21 of which are amateurs
  • 15 previous Mena Tour winners are competing at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club  
The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
How to avoid crypto fraud
  • Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
  • Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
  • Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
  • Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
  • Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
  • Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
  • Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Tips to avoid getting scammed

1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday

2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment

3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone

4) Try not to close the sale at night

5) Don't be rushed into a sale 

6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour