Afghanistan National T20 Cup 2026: Schedule & Match Info

The Afghanistan National T20 Cup 2026 runs from May 2 to May 14, 2026, at the Kunduz Cricket Ground. All 21 matches, including the final, take place at a single venue.

This is the third edition of Afghanistan’s premier domestic T20 tournament, officially branded as the e& National T20 Cup 2026, powered by Super Cola. Five regional teams compete in a double round-robin format, and the top two qualify for the final.

As a result, the tournament packs 21 high-intensity T20 matches into just 13 days. If you are looking for the complete schedule, team details, and streaming info, this guide covers everything.

Afghanistan National T20 Cup 2026: Series Overview

Before jumping into the full schedule, here is a quick snapshot of the tournament. In brief, this table covers all the key details at a glance.

Afghanistan National T20 Cup 2026: Complete Match Schedule

The Afghanistan Cricket Board has packed this tournament tightly. In fact, two matches take place on most match days, while May 7 and May 13 serve as rest days. Here is the complete fixture list with match timings in Afghanistan Time (AFT, UTC+4:30).

Match Timings for Indian Viewers

For Indian viewers, AFT is 1 hour behind IST. Therefore, a 9:00 AM AFT match starts at 10:00 AM IST, while a 2:00 PM AFT match begins at 3:00 PM IST.

In addition, the tournament includes rest days on May 7 and May 13. Besides these two breaks, two matches take place every single day.

Afghanistan National T20 Cup 2026: Teams and Captains

In total, five regional teams are part of the National T20 Cup 2026. Specifically, each team represents a cluster of Afghan provinces, which consequently makes local rivalries particularly intense.

Key Players to Watch in National T20 Cup 2026

First of all, several notable Afghan cricketers feature in the squads. Hazratullah Zazai leads Band-e-Amir, and he smashed 310 runs in the 2024 edition at a strike rate of 158.16.

Similarly, Najibullah Zadran captains the Bost Region. In particular, he brings plenty of international T20 experience and has built a reputation for power-hitting in the middle order.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Ishaq and Mobin Khan serve as wicketkeepers for Speenghar. On the other hand, Khalid Taniwal of Mis-e-Ainak topped the runs chart in the early rounds with 96 runs.

What’s more, Abdollah Ahmadzai of Band-e-Amir grabbed 4 wickets in his very first match, which consequently made him the leading wicket-taker so far.

How Does the National T20 Cup 2026 Work? Format Explained

In brief, the format is straightforward. All five teams play each other twice in a double round-robin league stage. As a result, every team gets 8 guaranteed matches before the final.

Consequently, at the end of the league phase, the top two teams on the points table advance to the Grand Final on May 14, 2026. In other words, there are no playoffs or eliminators in this format.

Although this is the same format used in 2024 and 2025, the 2025 edition ran under different team names (Hindukush Strikers, Pamir Legends, etc.). However, for 2026, the ACB brought back the original regional team structure.

Afghanistan National T20 Cup: Past Champions

Since the tournament is still young (started in 2024), only two editions have taken place so far. Here is the complete list of winners.

Notably, the 2025 final was incredibly close. Hindukush Strikers chased down 97 and won by just 1 wicket. That kind of finish shows exactly why this tournament matters for Afghan cricket’s growth.

Kunduz Cricket Ground: Venue Details

Every match of the National T20 Cup 2026 takes place at the Kunduz Cricket Ground in Kunduz province. Unlike the 2024 edition, where the ACB hosted games across multiple cities, this year features a single-venue setup.

Moreover, the Kunduz ground also hosted the 2025 edition. It typically offers a flat batting surface, although new-ball bowlers can get some help early on. As a result, spinners tend to play a bigger role as the match progresses.

Because all 21 matches take place at a single venue, pitch wear and tear will become a factor in the later stages. Consequently, teams batting second may find conditions increasingly challenging as the tournament goes on.

Where to Watch National T20 Cup 2026 in India and Worldwide

For fans in India, you can watch the tournament on FanCode. In fact, FanCode listed it under ‘Super Cola National T20 Cup, 2026’ on their schedule page.

Furthermore, FanCode also streamed the 2025 edition. You may need a match pass or tour pass to access live streaming, so keep that in mind.

Why Does the National T20 Cup Matter for Afghan Cricket?

Afghanistan’s rise in international cricket has been one of the best stories of the past decade. However, that rise needs strong domestic structures to sustain it.

Above all, the National T20 Cup serves as the primary pathway for young Afghan cricketers to catch the national selection committee’s eye. In particular, players who perform well here often graduate to Afghanistan’s national squad.

For example, Ijaz Ahmadzai (captain of Mis-e-Ainak in 2026) earned a reserve spot in Afghanistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad. In other words, the connection between domestic performance and international selection is exactly why this tournament carries weight.

Besides that, the tournament also gives exposure to players from remote provinces who would otherwise have limited opportunities to play competitive T20 cricket.

National T20 Cup 2026 Match Timings in IST (For Indian Fans)

Since a large chunk of cricket fans following this tournament come from India, here is a quick conversion table. Afghanistan Time (AFT) is UTC+4:30, while IST is UTC+5:30. Therefore, AFT runs exactly 1 hour behind IST.

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• T20 Blast 2026 Schedule
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Conclusion: Afghanistan National T20 Cup 2026

In conclusion, the Afghanistan National T20 Cup 2026 is a compact yet significant tournament for Afghan cricket. With 21 matches in 13 days, there is plenty of action for fans to follow.

So, whether you are tracking it for fantasy cricket, scouting Afghan talent, or simply love following associate/domestic cricket worldwide, this tournament is worth your time. Above all, the final on May 14 should be a cracker.