Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir emerged as the first pick in the Afghanistan Premier League (APL) 2026 player draft. Kandahar Warriors selected him in the Platinum category, with his fee set at $100,000, equivalent to approximately Rs 89 lakh.
The player draft for the Afghanistan Premier League 2026 was held in Dubai on Tuesday, November 3. Kandahar Warriors had the opportunity to make the first selection and used it to sign Mohammad Amir. Notably, Amir participated in the draft as a British citizen rather than a Pakistani national.
Kandahar Warriors made Mohammad Amir their first selection in the APL 2026 draft. He was placed in the Platinum category, the highest-priced player category in the competition, which carries a fee of $100,000.
Following Amir's selection, Kandahar Warriors picked experienced Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi in the Diamond category. Rashid Khan is already part of the franchise as its Afghan icon player. The team will therefore have experienced players, including Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mohammad Amir, in its squad.
Players' fees in the Afghanistan Premier League have been determined according to their respective draft categories.
The Platinum category carries a fee of $100,000, followed by $65,000 for the Diamond category and $40,000 for the Gold category. Players selected in the Silver category will receive $20,000, while those in the Emerging category will receive $10,000. The draft also included supplementary rounds.
A total of 462 players were shortlisted for this year's draft, of whom 90 were selected. The five franchises have prepared squads comprising 19 players each. Each team has provisions to include both domestic and overseas cricketers.
One of the key aspects of Mohammad Amir's participation in the APL 2026 draft is his citizenship status. The former Pakistan international cricketer acquired British citizenship in May 2026. Following this, he began participating in England's domestic cricket competitions as a local player.
Amir has featured in competitions such as the T20 Blast and The Hundred. He also registered for the Afghanistan Premier League draft as a British citizen.
His status distinguishes him from other Pakistani cricketers. Amir does not require a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), while other players representing Pakistan continue to face uncertainty over the necessary clearance.
More than 30 Pakistani cricketers registered for the Afghanistan Premier League. The list included Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Hasan Ali, Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique and Imad Wasim.
However, their participation in the tournament remains uncertain. According to reports, the Pakistan Cricket Board is unlikely to issue the required NOCs. The Afghanistan Cricket Board has also clarified that Pakistani players must obtain the necessary permission from their respective cricket board.
Without the required NOC, it could be difficult for these players to participate in the tournament. Mohammad Amir, however, does not face the same restriction because of his British citizenship.
Following his registration in the Afghanistan Premier League draft as a British citizen, speculation emerged about Mohammad Amir potentially participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Reports suggested that he could register as an overseas player for the IPL 2027 auction. However, Amir dismissed these reports. In a social media post, he clarified that the claims regarding his IPL participation were incorrect.
His clarification brought an end to the speculation surrounding his possible entry into the IPL.
The new season of the Afghanistan Premier League is scheduled to begin on December 27, 2026, in the United Arab Emirates.
Five franchises will participate in the tournament: Kandahar Warriors, Team Balkh, Nangarhar Cosmic, Aksel United Kabul and Team Paktia.
