Moeen, Hales lead England contingent for inaugural Afghanistan Premier League

Eight English players, including Moeen Ali and Alex Hales, secured contracts in the draft for the inaugural Afghanistan Premier League T20. However, their participation remains contingent on whether the tournament receives sanctioning from the ICC, which has not yet been granted. The England and Wales Cricket Board indicated it will reluctantly issue No-Objection Certificates to avoid restraint-of-trade issues, provided the ICC formally approves the event ahead of its scheduled launch on December 27 in the UAE.

None of the eight signed English cricketers hold central ECB contracts, while players including Ollie Pope and David Willey withdrew from the draft following public scrutiny. Only three of the five franchises have been sold so far, and the league approval process remains ongoing as organizers must meet required minimum event staging standards.