Wasim Akram turns down Afghanistan Premier League auction invitation

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram declined a franchise’s invitation to attend the Afghanistan Premier League auction ceremony, according to sources cited by ARY News Urdu in a report from Karachi.

The former fast bowler, known as the Sultan of Swing, was approached by a franchise about attending the event but turned down the invitation. The auction took place in the United Arab Emirates on November 3.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has barred its players from participating in the Afghanistan Premier League. Pakistani cricketers are also considered unlikely to receive the board’s no-objection certificates for the competition, which is due to be played later this year.

Meanwhile, Kandahar Warriors selected former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir in the platinum category. He entered the player draft as a British citizen, with his selection made on the basis of his British passport.

Amir is based in England and obtained British citizenship in May this year. Kandahar used their first pick to recruit him, choosing the former Pakistan pacer before Afghanistan’s experienced all-rounder Mohammad Nabi.

Amir’s registration under his British nationality had been reported before the selection. In a November 2, 2026 report, ProPakistani said the Afghanistan Premier League draft was scheduled for November 3 in Dubai. It reported that the draft register listed him as British while recording Pakistan as his country of residence, and that the platinum category carried a player fee of $100,000.

That report also said Amir, aged 34, was considering entering the Indian Premier League’s 2027 auction, scheduled for December 16 in Goa, although his registration had not been confirmed. He had been playing as a local player in England’s T20 Blast and The Hundred. ProPakistani noted that former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood had previously played for Kings XI Punjab after obtaining a British passport, while Pakistani nationals had been unable to compete in the IPL in recent years.

In a separate development, Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman has joined the BBL.