Kabul Premier League gets underway with high-scoring opener

The 2026 Kabul Premier League got underway in Kabul on Saturday, with Pamir Stars producing a dominant batting performance to defeat Shamshad Eagles by 116 runs in the opening match of the tournament.

The 20-over match was played at the Ayoubi Cricket Ground, where Shamshad Eagles won the toss and elected to field first.

Pamir Stars made the most of the opportunity, posting a formidable 307 for six from their 20 overs.

Abdul Malik led the way with a spectacular 117 from just 48 balls, while Haroon Khan added 59 from 29 deliveries to help Pamir Stars set a huge target.

Shamshad Eagles fought back with the bat but could only reach 191 for seven in their 20 overs, falling 116 runs short of the target.

Hayatullah top-scored for Shamshad Eagles with 55 from 35 balls, while Samiullah Shinwari contributed 40 from 27 deliveries.

Amir Zazai and Wakeel Ahmad took two wickets each for Pamir Stars, while Muslim Musa and Mohammad Gul Alizai claimed two wickets apiece for Shamshad Eagles.

Abdul Malik was named Player of the Match for his explosive century, giving Pamir Stars an emphatic start to their campaign.

The Kabul Premier League features six teams — Pamir Stars, Shamshad Eagles, Kabul Zalmi, Speenghar Warriors, Abaseen Defenders and Band-e-Amir. The tournament provides a platform for domestic players to compete at a high level and showcase their abilities.

All matches in the 2026 Kabul Premier League are being broadcast live and exclusively on Ariana Television, giving cricket fans across Afghanistan the opportunity to follow the tournament.