APL 2026 Draft Recap: Mohammad Amir First Pick, Top Buys and Team Highlights

The Afghanistan Premier League 2026 players’ draft is done, and the five franchises now know exactly who they will take into the league’s comeback season. Held on November 3, 2026, at the Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre in Dubai, the draft saw all five teams complete their 19-player squads over 18 rounds, selecting 90 players from a pool of 462 shortlisted cricketers. The tournament itself starts on December 27, 2026, in the United Arab Emirates.

This recap covers the biggest moments of the draft: the first pick, the Platinum stars, the Diamond steals, and which team looks strongest on paper. For the complete 19-player list of every team, see our APL 2026 all teams squad article.

Mohammad Amir: The First Pick of the APL 2026 Draft

Former Pakistan left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Amir was the first pick of the entire draft, selected by Kandahar Warriors. Amir will now share a dressing room with Afghan superstar Rashid Khan, who captains Kandahar, and he gives the Warriors one of the most feared new-ball attacks in the tournament alongside Mohammad Nabi.

Kandahar topping the Platinum and Diamond games at the pre-draft APL Huddle earned them the first pick, and they used it on the most experienced fast bowler available. Amir’s left-arm swing in UAE conditions, where he has played plenty of cricket, makes him a natural fit for the December-January window.

APL 2026 Draft Platinum Picks: Five Global Stars

The Platinum category, worth US$100,000, produced one marquee overseas name per team:

Team	Platinum Pick
Kandahar Warriors	Mohammad Amir
Team Balkh	Moeen Ali
Nangarhar Cosmic	Alex Hales
Akcel United Kabul	Johnson Charles
Team Paktia	Wanindu Hasaranga

England all-rounder Moeen Ali heads to Balkh, where he will play under captain Ibrahim Zadran. Alex Hales, one of the most destructive T20 openers of the last decade, joins Nangarhar Cosmic. West Indies wicketkeeper-batter Johnson Charles goes to Kabul, and Sri Lanka leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, a proven T20 match-winner, lands at Paktia.

APL 2026 Draft Diamond Picks: Shakib, Nabi, Farooqi and Noor Ahmad

The Diamond category, worth US$65,000, was stacked with international quality:

• Mohammad Nabi (Kandahar Warriors): Afghanistan’s most experienced T20 all-rounder joins his national captain Rashid Khan.
• Fazalhaq Farooqi (Akcel United Kabul): Afghanistan’s left-arm new-ball bowler pairs with captain Azmatullah Omarzai.
• Noor Ahmad (Team Paktia): The young Afghan wrist-spinner, already a global T20 league regular, joins Gurbaz’s side.
• Shakib Al Hasan (Nangarhar Cosmic): Bangladesh’s greatest all-rounder is Nangarhar’s biggest signing.
• Nahid Rana (Team Paktia): Bangladesh’s express fast bowler adds genuine pace to Paktia.
• Luke Wood (Team Balkh): England left-arm quick strengthens Balkh’s pace attack.
• Joe Clarke (Kandahar Warriors): England wicketkeeper-batter adds firepower to Kandahar’s top order.
• Dushmantha Chameera (Akcel United Kabul): Sri Lanka fast bowler joins Kabul’s pace unit.

Other Notable APL 2026 Draft Picks

Beyond the top two categories, several proven T20 performers found teams. South Africa leg-spinner Imran Tahir joins Kabul, Sri Lanka’s Kusal Perera and England’s Tymal Mills go to Kandahar, New Zealand’s Colin Munro and Namibia’s David Wiese head to Paktia, UAE captain Muhammad Waseem joins Balkh, Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis signs for Nangarhar, and Australia’s D’Arcy Short and Ireland’s Curtis Campher both land at Kabul.

Fifteen emerging Afghan players were also selected across three dedicated rounds, underlining the league’s plan to develop young domestic talent alongside the stars.

APL 2026 Draft Salary Categories Explained

Players were classified into five salary brackets for the draft:

Category	Salary
Platinum	US$100,000
Diamond	US$65,000
Gold	US$40,000
Silver	US$20,000
Emerging	US$10,000

Each franchise’s 19-player squad comprises its Afghan icon player plus 18 draft picks. A minimum of 12 Afghan or local players and a maximum of 7 overseas players applies to every squad.

Which Team Looks Strongest After the APL 2026 Draft?

On paper, Kandahar Warriors look the team to beat. Rashid Khan captains the side, Mohammad Amir leads the pace attack, Mohammad Nabi brings all-round balance, and Joe Clarke and Kusal Perera add batting depth. No other team matches that blend of a world-class spinner, a proven new-ball bowler and an experienced finisher.

Nangarhar Cosmic are the batting entertainers: Alex Hales and Shakib Al Hasan at the top, Kamindu Mendis in the middle, and Rahmat Shah leading the side after the late captaincy swap with Paktia. Kabul’s bowling looks formidable with Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Dushmantha Chameera and Imran Tahir, while Paktia’s spin trio of Wanindu Hasaranga, Noor Ahmad and captain Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s batting make them dangerous. Balkh, led by Ibrahim Zadran with Moeen Ali and Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, look the most balanced of the five.

What Happens Next in APL 2026?

The full match-by-match fixture list is still awaited. The tournament runs from December 27, 2026, in the UAE, with five teams playing a double round-robin followed by playoffs, and the winners lifting the “Koh-E-Zafar” trophy. Our APL 2026 schedule, teams and venue guide will be updated as soon as the official fixtures are released.

FAQs: APL 2026 Draft

When was the APL 2026 draft held?

The players’ draft was held on November 3, 2026, in Dubai, UAE.

Who was the first pick of the APL 2026 draft?

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir, selected by Kandahar Warriors.

How many players were picked in the APL 2026 draft?

A total of 90 players were picked over 18 rounds, from a pool of 462 shortlisted cricketers, completing five 19-player squads.

Which overseas stars were picked in the APL 2026 draft?

Mohammad Amir, Moeen Ali, Alex Hales, Johnson Charles, Wanindu Hasaranga, Shakib Al Hasan, Imran Tahir, Colin Munro and David Wiese headline the overseas signings.

When does APL 2026 start?

The tournament starts on December 27, 2026, in the United Arab Emirates.