A champion in 2018, a seamer again in 2026-27
Aftab Alam is in the Nangarhar Cosmic squad for APL 2026-27, picked in the Supplementary category at the player draft in Dubai on 3 November 2026. He is one of the most experienced names in the squad: a 33-year-old seamer with 27 one-day internationals behind him, and a man who already knows what it takes to win this league — he was part of the Balkh Legends side that won the first APL title in 2018.
He is a right-hand batter and a right-arm fast-medium bowler, born in Nangarhar on 30 November 1992, and his ODI record is solid: 41 wickets in 27 matches, with best figures of 4 for 25. The season starts on 27 December 2026 in the UAE, and for Aftab Alam it is a return to the APL after an eight-year gap — the same gap the league itself has been away.
For Cosmic, he is experience at the cheap end of the draft. The squad he has joined is captained by Rahmat Shah, coached by Toby Radford and mentored by Mark Boucher, and the overseas names in the dressing room include Alex Hales, the Platinum pick, and Kamindu Mendis. Alam’s job is the unglamorous one: bowl hard lengths, take the new ball when asked, and show the younger seamers how a tournament is won.
APL 2026-27 in numbers
The season has not started, so Aftab Alam has no APL 2026-27 runs, wickets or matches yet. His first numbers in this league will come after Nangarhar Cosmic’s opening match — the season’s first ball is on Sunday 27 December 2026. Until then, the table below is his career at a glance.
| Detail | Aftab Alam |
|---|---|
| Born | 30 November 1992, Nangarhar, Afghanistan |
| Role | Bowler (right-arm fast-medium) |
| Batting | Right-hand bat |
| Bowling | Right-arm fast-medium |
| Draft category | Supplementary |
| APL history | 2018: Balkh Legends champions |
Career facts are from the player’s verified profile record. No APL 2026-27 figures exist yet — the season starts on 27 December 2026.
Where Nangarhar stand
Nangarhar Cosmic’s seam group mixes youth and experience: Junaid Siddique leads it, Ahmadzai and Sharifi bring Test pedigree, and Alam brings a winner’s medal from 2018. Captain Rahmat Shah leads the side, Toby Radford coaches it, and Mark Boucher mentors it.
Cosmic play eight league matches, two against each of the other four teams, with four playoff places on offer. The APL season opens on Sunday 27 December 2026 at 5:30 PM Afghanistan time, and the final is on Wednesday 20 January 2027. Alam is one of only three men in the squad who won the first APL.
Frequently asked questions
What is Aftab Alam’s role for Nangarhar Cosmic?
He is a seamer — a right-arm fast-medium bowler picked in the Supplementary category at the Dubai draft.
Did Aftab Alam win the first APL?
Yes. He was part of the Balkh Legends side that won the first APL title in October 2018.
How many ODI wickets has Aftab Alam taken?
41 wickets in 27 one-day internationals for Afghanistan, with best figures of 4 for 25.
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