Afghanistan Cricket Board

What Afghanistan Cricket Board does

Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is the national governing body for cricket in Afghanistan, founded in 1995 as the Afghanistan Cricket Federation and elevated to its current status as an independent governing body by presidential decree on June 2, 2009. Headquartered at Kabul National Cricket Stadium, the organization oversees all aspects of cricket in Afghanistan, including national team operations (the 'Afghan Atalan' brand), domestic competitions, player development pathways, and international representation. ACB was granted ICC Full Member status on June 22, 2017, enabling Test cricket participation, and has since achieved significant milestones including the 2024 T20 World Cup semifinals, the 2023 Asia Cup title, and its first ICC Champions Trophy victory in 2025.

ACB's product portfolio spans domestic T20 competitions (Shpageeza Cricket League, National T20 Cup, Afghanistan Premier League), first-class tournaments (Ahmad Shah Abdali, Mirwais Neka Regional), and infrastructure assets including the High Performance Center in Kabul, 11 cricket grounds across Afghanistan, and 7 outdoor academies. The Talent Hunt Program provides grassroots identification, while coaching education spans ICC Level 1–3 courses. International operations include bilateral series with Full Member nations and ICC tournament participation, with home matches frequently played in the UAE due to domestic infrastructure constraints.

ACB does not sell products or services to end customers. Instead, it generates revenue through ICC funding distributions, government support, commercial sponsorships (e.g., Etisalat, SuperCola), and match/event revenues. The organization employs 101–250 staff across functional departments including commercial, finance, legal, HR, procurement, administration, and cricket-specific roles (domestic cricket, international cricket, High Performance Center). Leadership consists of Chairman Mirwais Ashraf (former national team all-rounder) and CEO Naseeb Khan, with a publicly stated commitment to financial self-sufficiency.

Name

Afghanistan Cricket Board

Legal name

Afghanistan Cricket Board

Website

https://acb.af

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Afghanistan Cricket Board is the national governing body for cricket in Afghanistan, granted ICC Full Member status in 2017. It manages the national team, domestic tournaments including Shpageeza Cricket League, High Performance Center, and 11 cricket grounds nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Governance (Cricket Federation Services)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

National Governing Bodies (NGBs) (MPAKAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cricket Leagues (MPAKAAAF)

Keywords

• National cricket federation
• Cricket tournament management
• Cricket development programs
• Sports governance services
• Cricket infrastructure development

Headquarters

HQ city

Kabul

HQ country

Afghanistan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Afghanistan Cricket Board governs and develops all aspects of cricket in Afghanistan. It operates the national men's cricket team (Afghan Atalan), organizes domestic T20 and first-class tournaments (Shpageeza Cricket League, Ahmad Shah Abdali First Class Tournament, National T20 Cup), runs a High Performance Center for player development, and manages 11 cricket grounds and 7 outdoor academies across the country. The board also represents Afghanistan in international cricket as an ICC Full Member.

Product overview

Afghanistan Cricket Board operates as a national cricket governing body offering a portfolio of cricket products and services. The core offering includes domestic cricket tournaments: Shpageeza Cricket League (premier T20 tournament, 11th edition in 2026), Ahmad Shah Abdali First Class Tournament (first-class cricket), and National T20 Cup. Supporting products include the High Performance Center (training facility with fitness, rehab, and coaching programs), Talent Hunt Program (youth identification), Afghanistan Premier League (franchise T20 cricket), and Magazine Publications. The national team brand 'Afghan Atalan' represents Afghanistan internationally in Test, ODI, and T20I formats. These products collectively serve to develop cricket talent, organize domestic competitions, and advance Afghanistan's presence in international cricket.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Afghan Atalan: The Afghanistan national cricket team, representing Afghanistan in international cricket competitions including Test, ODI, and T20I formats.

Products and services

• Shpageeza Cricket League Afghanistan's premier domestic T20 cricket tournament featuring five regional teams (Amo Sharks, Band-e-Amir Dragons, Mis-e-Ainak Knights, Bost Defenders, Speenghar Tigers) competing in a double round-robin format. The 11th edition (2026) is held in Khost Province, sponsored by Etisalat and SuperCola.
• Ahmad Shah Abdali First Class Tournament Afghanistan's premier first-class domestic cricket tournament, with the 9th edition scheduled for September 2026, serving as a key component of the domestic cricket structure for player development.
• National T20 Cup Domestic T20 cricket competition part of Afghanistan's domestic cricket framework alongside Shpageeza Cricket League and first-class tournaments.
• Afghanistan Premier League (APL) T20 franchise cricket league featuring international and domestic players, with the grand launch event held in UAE in December 2025, organized by Cricket Venture.
• High Performance Center State-of-the-art training facility at Kabul National Cricket Stadium providing world-class cricket development through expert coaching, comprehensive programs, and technical staff training. Includes fitness center, rehab center, guest house, game zone, and Kabul Cricket Academy.
• Domestic Cricket Competitions Framework Multiple domestic cricket tournaments including Mirwais Neka Regional Three-Day Tournament (first-class), Regional List A Tournament, Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan Provincial Grade I and II Tournaments, and XBull Regional competitions.
• Afghan Atalan National Cricket Team The Afghanistan national cricket team brand, representing Afghanistan in international cricket competitions including Test, ODI, and T20I formats as an ICC Full Member nation.

Quantifiable outcome

• First ICC Champions Trophy victory against England in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• Cricket IrelandminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2026Afghanistan playing five-match ODI series against Ireland in August 2026. Under reciprocal arrangement, Ireland tours UAE in March for one Test, three ODIs and three T20Is. Maintains cricket ties despite other boards' policies on Afghanistan.
• EtisalatmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Etisalat secured title sponsorship rights for Shpageeza Cricket League 2026. Brand will be promoted as 'e& Shpageeza Cricket League 2026'. Long-term sponsorship agreement in place.
• SuperCola Beverages Manufacturing CompanymajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Super Cola granted 'powered by' sponsorship rights for Shpageeza Cricket League 2026 under long-term agreement. Tournament officially named 'e& Shpageeza Cricket League 2026, powered by SuperCola'.
• Cricket VenturemajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 December 2025Cricket Venture is a partner for Afghanistan Premier League (APL) tournament. Representatives attended APL Grand Launch Event in UAE on December 20, 2025. Souvenirs exchanged between ACB leadership and Cricket Venture representatives.
• Cricket Federation of UzbekistanminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024Cricket Development Support MoU between ACB and Cricket Federation of Uzbekistan signed in December 2024. ACB organized capacity-building programs and training workshops for Uzbekistan players. Uzbek fast bowlers trained through ACB's Fast Bowling Camp. One-off T20 match hosted in July 2026 in Khost.
• International Cricket Council (ICC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2017ICC granted Afghanistan Full Member status on June 22, 2017 during AGM in London. This allowed Afghanistan to play Test cricket and participate in ICC events. ICC provides funding and support to Afghanistan as a Full Member nation, including access to ICC events and Future Tours Program.
• Asian Cricket Council (ACC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003Afghanistan achieved associate membership in ACC in 2003. ACC organizes regional tournaments including Asia Cup and ACC Premier League where Afghanistan competes against Full Members like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pakistan Cricket Board: National cricket governing body for Pakistan, sharing the same South Asian cricket ecosystem, ICC Full Member status, and bilateral series relationships with Afghanistan. Comparable in scale, regional context, and governance structure.
• Bangladesh Cricket Board: National cricket governing body for Bangladesh, similarly positioned as a recently elevated Full Member with a comparable talent development pyramid and active bilateral series with Afghanistan.
• Sri Lanka Cricket: National cricket governing body for Sri Lanka, an ICC Full Member with comparable infrastructure, domestic tournament portfolio, and ICC event participation profile.
• Zimbabwe Cricket: Smaller ICC Full Member with a comparable resource-constrained operating model, similar headcount, and parallel challenges around player retention and competitive depth against larger nations.
• Cricket Ireland: National cricket governing body for Ireland — a recent Full Member with a comparable growth trajectory and active bilateral series partner of ACB. Similar in size and structural stage of development.
• Cricket West Indies: Regional cricket governing body for the Caribbean, an ICC Full Member with comparable challenges around player retention to global T20 franchise leagues and a multi-island operating model.

Emerging players

• Nepal Cricket (CAN): Cricket Association of Nepal, an ICC Associate Member in the same Asian region, pursuing Full Member ambitions. Operates a similar talent development model with a smaller footprint than ACB.
• Cricket Scotland: ICC Associate Member governing body with a similar resource profile and pathway ambitions toward Full Membership, operating in a smaller cricket market.

Others

• Asian Cricket Council: Regional cricket governing body of which ACB is a member. Coordinates Asia Cup and ACC tournaments — directly relevant to ACB's regional competition schedule.

Broad incumbents

• International Cricket Council: Global governing body of cricket that granted ACB Full Membership status and provides the majority of ACB's institutional funding. Sets the regulatory and event framework in which ACB operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ACBofficials
• Facebookfacebook.com/AfghanistanCricketBoardOfficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/acbofficials

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Afghanistan Cricket Board