The Merwais Nika Regional 3-Day Trophy 2026 points table will be updated after each match once the tournament begins on April 2, 2026.
This is the 6th edition of Afghanistan’s premier regional first-class cricket competition.
Five teams compete in a round-robin format across 10 matches at two venues: Kandahar and Lashkar Gah.
Speen Ghar Region are the defending champions after winning the 2025 edition.
This page covers the latest standings, full schedule, team details, and everything Indian fans need to follow the action.
Merwais Nika Regional 3-Day Trophy 2026 Overview
Before we break down the schedule and teams, here’s a quick snapshot of the entire tournament.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | Merwais Nika Regional 3-Day Trophy 2026 |
| Organized By | Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) |
| Format | 3-Day First-Class Matches |
| Season | 6th Edition (2026) |
| Teams | 5 Regional Teams |
| Total Matches | 10 |
| Start Date | April 2, 2026 |
| End Date | April 20, 2026 |
| Venues | Kandahar, Lashkar Gah |
| Defending Champions | Speen Ghar Region (2025 Winners) |
| Match Start Time | 11:00 AM AFT / 11:00 AM IST |

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) organizes this tournament as part of its domestic first-class cricket calendar.
In February 2017, the **ICC** granted first-class status to Afghanistan’s domestic four-day (and three-day) competitions.
Merwais Nika Regional 3-Day Trophy 2026 Points Table & Team Standings
The Merwais Nika Regional 3-Day Trophy 2026 points table below tracks all five teams’ progress through the tournament.
However, this table will be updated after each round as results come in.
| Teams | M | W | L | T | D | N/R | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amo Region | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 |
| Mis Ainak Region | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 |
| Band-e-Amir Region | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| Boost Region | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| Speen Ghar Region | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Note: Standings are updated after the completion of each match.
This table will reflect wins, losses, draws, and points as the tournament progresses.
How to Read the Merwais Nika Regional 3-Day Trophy Points Table
If you’re new to first-class cricket standings, here’s a quick breakdown of each column in the points table.
Unlike T20 or ODI tournaments, draws are common in three-day cricket, so they play a key role in the standings.
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| M | Matches Played |
| W | Matches Won |
| L | Matches Lost |
| T | Matches Tied |
| D | Matches Drawn |
| N/R | Matches Abandoned (No Result) |
| PTS | Points Awarded |
In first-class cricket, a win typically earns more points than a draw.
Teams finishing at the top of the points table at the end of all 10 matches are declared champions.
Teams in the Merwais Nika Regional 3-Day Trophy 2026
Five regional teams from across Afghanistan compete in this tournament.
Each team represents a distinct geographic and cultural zone of the country.
Here’s a closer look at all five squads.
Amo Region
Amo Region takes its name from the Amu Darya river in northern Afghanistan.
The team represents provinces in the northern belt, with Balkh as its central hub.
Amo Region competes across both Kandahar and Lashkar Gah venues throughout the series.
In the 2025 edition, Hassan Eisakhil from Amo Region scored 377 runs at an average of 62.83, finishing as one of the tournament’s top batters.
Band-e-Amir Region
Named after the famous Band-e-Amir lakes in Bamiyan province, this team carries rich cultural significance.
Band-e-Amir Region is centred around Kabul and represents the central Afghan highlands.
In the 2025 season, Haroon Khan smashed 496 runs at a staggering average of 99.20, making him the tournament’s leading run-scorer.
Mohammad Asif also contributed 426 runs at an average of 71.00, giving Band-e-Amir Region serious batting firepower.
Boost Region
Boost Region represents the Helmand province area in southwestern Afghanistan.
The team plays its home matches at the Kandahar venue.
Boost Region won the 2024 edition of the tournament, so they know what it takes to lift the trophy.
Aqil Khan and Abdul Baqi were among the top wicket-takers in 2025 with 16 wickets each, both representing Boost Region’s bowling strength.
Mis Ainak Region
Mis Ainak Region is named after the Mes Aynak archaeological site in Logar province.
The team represents the southeastern zone and features players from Khost and surrounding areas.
In the 2024 edition, Mis Ainak defeated Band-e-Amir Region by an innings and 42 runs, showing they can dominate on their day.
Speen Ghar Region (Defending Champions)
Speen Ghar Region draws its name from the Spin Ghar mountain range along the Afghan-Pakistan border.
This team represents the eastern provinces, with Nangarhar as its base.
Speen Ghar Region won the 2025 edition under the leadership of Allah Noor, accumulating 55 points from four matches.
Naseer Khan Maroofkhil took 13 wickets in 2025, and Arshaduddin Safi scored 393 runs at 78.60 in the 2024 edition.
As defending champions, Speen Ghar Region enter the 2026 tournament as the team to beat.
Complete Schedule for Merwais Nika Regional 3-Day Trophy 2026
All 10 matches are spread across five rounds, with two matches running simultaneously at different venues.
Here’s the full fixture list.
| Match | Date | Venue | Teams | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Match | Apr 02-04, 2026 | Kandahar | Boost Region vs Amo Region | Match drawn |
| 2nd Match | Apr 02-04, 2026 | Lashkar Gah | Band-e-Amir Region vs Mis Ainak Region | Match drawn |
| 3rd Match | Apr 06-08, 2026 | Kandahar | Boost Region vs Speen Ghar Region | |
| 4th Match | Apr 06-08, 2026 | Lashkar Gah | Amo Region vs Mis Ainak Region | |
| 5th Match | Apr 10-12, 2026 | Kandahar | Boost Region vs Mis Ainak Region | |
| 6th Match | Apr 10-12, 2026 | Lashkar Gah | Speen Ghar Region vs Band-e-Amir Region | |
| 7th Match | Apr 14-16, 2026 | Kandahar | Speen Ghar Region vs Amo Region | |
| 8th Match | Apr 14-16, 2026 | Lashkar Gah | Band-e-Amir Region vs Boost Region | |
| 9th Match | Apr 18-20, 2026 | Kandahar | Mis Ainak Region vs Speen Ghar Region | |
| 10th Match | Apr 18-20, 2026 | Lashkar Gah | Band-e-Amir Region vs Amo Region |
Each match runs across three days, and all games start at 11:00 AM local time.
How to Watch Merwais Nika Regional 3-Day Trophy 2026 in India
Indian fans have a few options to follow this Afghan domestic tournament live.
FanCode
FanCode is the primary streaming platform for Afghan domestic cricket in India.
The app and website usually carry streaming rights for Afghanistan Cricket Board events.
Fans can subscribe through yearly, monthly, or match-specific passes on the platform.
ACB YouTube Channel
The Afghanistan Cricket Board’s official YouTube channel sometimes streams domestic matches for free.
It’s worth checking the channel before each match day for live links.
Live Text Updates
For those who prefer scorecard tracking, ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz cover the tournament with real-time text updates.
Both platforms provide ball-by-ball commentary and detailed scorecards.
Important: Streaming rights for Afghan domestic cricket may vary each season.
Always check the ACB’s official website for the latest broadcasting information.
Match Timings for Indian Fans
Good news for Indian viewers: all matches start at 11:00 AM IST, so no late-night alarms needed.
Here’s the time conversion across key regions.
| Time Zone | Start Time | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan (AFT) | 10:00 AM | Local Time |
| GMT | 5:30 AM | Greenwich Mean Time |
| IST (India) | 11:00 AM | Indian Standard Time |
| PKT (Pakistan) | 10:30 AM | Pakistan Standard Time |
| AEST (Australia) | 3:30 PM | Australian Eastern |
Why the Merwais Nika Regional 3-Day Trophy Matters for Afghan Cricket
This tournament is more than just a domestic competition.
It forms a crucial part of the ACB’s domestic cricket pathway, feeding talent into the national setup.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board runs a structured system that starts from club-level provincial competitions and goes all the way up to national contracts.
Players who perform well in the Merwais Nika Trophy earn consideration for the Ahmad Shah Baba Abdali First-Class Tournament, which sits higher in the domestic hierarchy.
From there, standout performers get picked for Afghanistan A and eventually the senior national team.
According to the ACB’s 2025 domestic review, the board organizes multiple tiers of competition each year, including T20, one-day, and multi-day formats.
Additionally, several players from Afghanistan’s U19 squad that reached the semifinal of the 2026 U19 World Cup are expected to feature in this edition.
So if you’re watching for future stars, this tournament is the right place to look.
Key Players to Watch in 2026
Based on performances from the 2024 and 2025 editions, here are some names worth tracking.
Top Batters
- Haroon Khan (Band-e-Amir Region) scored 496 runs at 99.20 in 2025.
- Mohammad Asif (Band-e-Amir Region) contributed 426 runs at 71.00 in the same season.
- Hassan Eisakhil (Amo Region) scored 377 runs at 62.83, showing consistent form.
- Arshaduddin Safi (Speen Ghar Region) was the top scorer in 2024 with 393 runs at 78.60.
Top Bowlers
- Aqil Khan (Boost Region) picked up 16 wickets in 2025 at an average of 23.25.
- Abdul Baqi (Boost Region) also took 16 wickets, averaging 30.75 across the tournament.
- Naseer Khan Maroofkhil (Speen Ghar Region) grabbed 13 wickets at 21.92.
- Khalil Gurbaz (Mis Ainak Region) took 17 wickets in the 2024 edition, making him one to watch for again.
Conclusion: Stay Updated With the Merwais Nika 3-Day Trophy 2026 Points Table
The Merwais Nika Regional 3-Day Trophy 2026 runs from April 2 to 20 across Kandahar and Lashkar Gah.
All five regional teams compete in a round-robin format across 10 matches.
Speen Ghar Region returns as defending champions.
Indian fans can follow the action on FanCode, ACB’s YouTube, or through live updates on ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz.
Bookmark this page for the latest points table updates as the tournament progresses.