Asian Legends League 2026: Full Schedule, Teams, and Squads

The Asian Legends League 2026 runs from July 30 to August 10 at the Lotus Sports Club Ground in Lusaka, Zambia.

Six country based franchises, stacked with legends like Shakib Al Hasan, Shikhar Dhawan and Kumar Sangakkara, chase the title across 19 T20 matches.

It’s the tournament’s first season away from Asia, shifted because of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

This guide covers the full schedule, squads, format and where to watch every match of Season 2.

Asian Legends League 2026 at a Glance

Here’s the entire tournament in one table, so you don’t have to hunt for the basics.

What Is the Asian Legends League?

The Asian Legends League brings back retired international cricketers for a fast paced T20 competition. Think of it as a reunion tour, except everyone still plays to win.

Established in 2023, the league is run by World Sports Group. Chetan Sharma, the former India selector, holds the title of League Commissioner.

Season 1 stretched across 2024 and 2025, with the final played in March 2025 at Nathdwara, Rajasthan. Asian Stars walked away with the trophy.

Season 2 picks up the story in 2026, and it arrives with a twist. For the first time, the tournament leaves Asian soil altogether.

Why Zambia? The Story Behind the Venue Shift

Season 2 was originally lined up for Nairobi, Kenya, with matches scheduled through early June 2026. Those fixtures were called off before a ball was bowled.

Organisers then locked in a fresh plan: Lusaka, Zambia, from July 30 to August 10, with every game hosted at the Lotus Sports Club Ground.

According to a league press statement issued on July 20, 2026, the switch came down to ongoing tensions in the Middle East and the travel complications that followed.

League Commissioner Chetan Sharma described this as the tournament’s only edition outside Asia so far, adding that the league plans to return to Asian venues from next season onward.

Format Explained: How Teams Reach the Final

All six teams play each other once in a single round robin. That adds up to 15 league matches before the knockout phase begins.

From there, the top four sides move into a playoff system borrowed straight from the IPL.

• Qualifier 1 (August 8): 1st placed team vs 2nd placed team. The winner goes directly to the final.
• Eliminator (August 8): 3rd placed team vs 4th placed team. The loser is out of the tournament.
• Qualifier 2 (August 9): Loser of Qualifier 1 vs winner of the Eliminator, for the second final spot.
• Final (August 10): Winner of Qualifier 1 vs winner of Qualifier 2, for the Season 2 title.

Add the league games to the four playoff matches, and the full tournament totals 19 matches across 13 days.

Full Match Schedule and Fixtures

Below is the complete Asian Legends League 2026 schedule. All timings are in IST, and every match is played at the Lotus Sports Club Ground, Lusaka.

The marquee fixture of the group stage arrives early. Indian Royals face Pakistan Panthers on August 2, reviving one of cricket’s oldest rivalries, even in retirement.

Teams and Squads for Season 2

All six franchises have named full squads ahead of the opener. Here’s who is turning out for each side.

Indian Royals

Captain: Yusuf Pathan

Squad: Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Faiz Fazal, Yusuf Pathan (c), Stuart Binny, Rishi Dhawan, Pawan Negi, Naman Ojha, Dinesh Karthik, Harbhajan Singh, Shahbaz Nadeem, Sudeep Tyagi, Anureet Singh, Manpreet Gony and Shadab Jakati.

This is arguably the most star studded batting order in the competition, anchored by Dhawan and Raina at the top. Faiz Fazal led the side to the top of the table last season, only to lose the final.

Pakistan Panthers

Captain: Mohammad Hafeez

Squad: Sharjeel Khan, Umar Akmal, Sami Aslam, Imran Nazir, Mohammad Hafeez (c), Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Abdur Rehman, Yasir Shah, Sohail Tanvir, Naved ul Hasan, Mohammad Irfan, Rahat Ali, Rana Naeem Anwar, Wahab Riaz and Saeed Ajmal.

Pace headlines this attack, with Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Irfan and Rahat Ali all sharing the new ball duties across the tournament.

Sri Lankan Lions

Captain: Thisara Perera

Squad: Kumar Sangakkara, Upul Tharanga, Chamara Kapugedera, Gihan Rupasinghe, Danushka Gunathilaka, Chaturanga de Silva, Shehan Jayasuriya, Thisara Perera (c), Jeevan Mendis, Malinda Pushpakumara, Seekkuge Prasanna, Nuwan Pradeep, Akalanka Ganegama, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Thushara and Vikum Sanjaya.

Sangakkara’s presence alone makes this squad worth watching, even years after his international retirement. The Lions finished 4th last season, winning just a single game, so a bounce back is overdue.

Bangladesh Tigers

Captain: Shakib Al Hasan

Squad: Shakib Al Hasan (c), Tushar Imran, Alok Kapali, Nadif Chowdhury, Mehedi Maruf, Asif Ahmed, Shuvagata Hom, Nazmus Sadat, Ariful Haque, Naeem Islam, Ziaur Rahman, Jubair Hossain, Dhiman Ghosh, Abul Hasan, Muktar Ali, Elias Sunny, Shafiul Islam and Rubel Hossain.

Shakib remains the most recognisable all rounder on this list, retired tag or not, and he leads a squad with genuine batting depth.

Afghanistan Pathans

Captain: Asghar Afghan

Squad: Asghar Afghan (c), Hazratullah Zazai, Shabir Noori, Riaz Hassan, Sediqullah Pacha, Samiullah Shinwari, Nijat Masood, Mohammad Shahzad, Munir Ahmad Kakkar, Aftab Alam, Dawlat Zadran, Waqarullah Ishaq, Rokhan Barakzai, Wafadar Momand, Khaiber Omar, Batin Shah and Wasim Akram.

Hazratullah Zazai’s big hitting gives this side real firepower at the top of the order. Afghanistan finished bottom of the table last season and will be desperate for a fresh start. The squad list also features Wasim Akram, a notable addition worth confirming closer to matchday.

Asian Stars

Captain: T.M. Dilshan

Squad: Tillakaratne Dilshan (c), Robin Uthappa, Saurabh Tiwary, Dilshan Munaweera, Mehran Khan, Chundangapoyil Rizwan, Farman Ahmed, Sarul Kanwar, Angelo Perera, Asela Gunaratne, T.M. Sampath, Isuru Udana, Raghav Dhawan, Bipul Sharma, Ankit Rajpoot and Pawan Suyal.

The defending champions blend Sri Lankan, Indian and Pakistani legends into one dressing room, led by the ever elegant Dilshan. Mehran Khan, last season’s winning captain, also features in the squad.

Players to Watch This Season

• Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh Tigers): Still the benchmark all rounder among this legends crop.
• Shikhar Dhawan (Indian Royals): The former India opener remains box office whenever he walks out to bat.
• Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lankan Lions): A wicketkeeper batter whose timing hasn’t faded with age.
• Mohammad Hafeez (Pakistan Panthers): Leads from the front as both a top order batter and part time spinner.
• Hazratullah Zazai (Afghanistan Pathans): One of the biggest hitters in the field, capable of clearing any boundary in Lusaka.
• T.M. Dilshan (Asian Stars): The reigning captain returns with a title to defend and plenty of experience to lean on.

Season 1 Recap: How Asian Stars Became Champions

The inaugural Asian Legends League final was played on March 18, 2025, at the Miraj International Cricket Stadium in Nathdwara, Rajasthan.

Asian Stars, led by Mehran Khan, chased down the target and won by 6 wickets to lift the trophy.

Indian Royals, captained by Faiz Fazal, had topped the league table with a 4-0 record. Even so, they fell short in the final.

This season’s contenders look different on paper. Sri Lankan Lions finished 4th last time and won only one match, while Afghanistan Pathans ended up bottom of the table. Both sides will want a far better showing in Zambia.

How to Watch Asian Legends League 2026

Broadcast rights differ by region, so here’s where fans across Asia and beyond can catch the action.

Sony Sports Network holds broadcast rights in India as part of a three season partnership with the league, running through the current edition.

Final Word: Asian Legends League 2026 is held between July 30-August 10

The Asian Legends League 2026 opens a fresh chapter for a tournament still finding its footing outside Asia.

Between the India vs Pakistan clash on August 2 and the race to dethrone Asian Stars, there’s plenty on the line over these 13 days in Lusaka.

Bookmark this page for schedule updates, squad changes and results as Season 2 unfolds.