The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Afghan cricketers were included in the auction pool for the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) but none were selected during the player auction held on Tuesday, Dec. 16.
A total of 10 Afghan players were listed for the 2026 season — Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Gulbadin Naib, Waqar Salamkheil, Sediqullah Atal, Qais Ahmad, Waheedullah Zadran and Arab Gul Momand — but none attracted bids from IPL franchises.
The absence of any Afghan player being picked at the auction drew attention among cricket observers, particularly given Afghanistan’s growing presence in international cricket.
At the same time, four Afghan players were retained by their respective teams ahead of the auction. Rashid Khan remains with Gujarat Titans, Azmatullah Omarzai with Punjab Kings, Noor Ahmad Lakanwal with Chennai Super Kings, and Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar with Mumbai Indians.
Cricket analysts cited multiple factors behind the outcome. Some pointed to the Afghan players’ underwhelming performances in the previous IPL season, while others noted a lack of consistent impact at the international level or in affiliated domestic competitions. Analysts said the situation highlights the challenges Afghan players face in competing at the highest professional level and attracting interest from major franchises.
This year’s auction featured 359 players from different countries, including 245 Indian and 114 overseas players. Australia’s Cameron Green became the most expensive overseas player in IPL history after being bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for 25.20 crore Indian rupees, while Sri Lanka’s Matheesha Pathirana was signed by the same team for 18 crore rupees.
The IPL 2026 season is scheduled to run from March 26 to May 31, with 10 teams participating: Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Lucknow Super Giants, Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans.
