A decade of doing the two jobs a T20 side needs most
Colin Ackermann is one of the most seasoned overseas signings of the 2026 draft — a Netherlands all-rounder with 226 domestic T20 matches behind him by the time Balkh Zwanan picked him in the Silver round. He steadies a middle order and breaks partnerships with the ball, and APL 2026-27 is his debut in the league.
Colin Ackermann arrives in the Afghanistan Premier League as one of the most seasoned overseas signings of the 2026 draft. Balkh Zwanan picked the Netherlands all-rounder in the Silver category at the player draft in Dubai on 3 November 2026, for a reported $20,000. He joins a squad led by Ibrahim Zadran, coached by Mickey Arthur and mentored by Tillakaratne Dilshan, with the season starting on 27 December 2026 in the UAE.
Balkh were not buying a name. They were buying a cricketer who has spent a decade doing the two jobs a T20 side needs most from an overseas all-rounder: steadying a middle order and breaking partnerships with the ball. By the time of the draft he had played 226 domestic T20 matches — county cricket at Durham, franchise cricket around the world, and international cricket for the Netherlands, with a T20I debut against Ireland on 5 October 2019 and an ODI debut against South Africa on 26 November 2021.
He is a right-hand batter and a right-arm off-break bowler, born in George, South Africa, on 4 April 1991, and he plays his county cricket at Durham. That is a profile Arthur knows how to use: a man who has batted in every position from three to seven and bowled in every phase of an innings.
Role, style and draft pick
Batting all-rounder — right-hand bat, right-arm off break.
| Detail | Colin Ackermann |
|---|---|
| Role | All-rounder |
| Batting | Right-hand bat |
| Bowling | Right-arm off break |
| Born | 4 April 1991, George, South Africa |
| Draft | Silver — $20,000 |
| APL debut | 2026 (did not play 2018) |
Captain: Ibrahim Zadran. Head coach: Mickey Arthur. Mentor: Tillakaratne Dilshan.
APL 2026-27 numbers — none yet
The season starts on Sunday 27 December 2026, so no APL 2026-27 figures exist for any player yet — not for Colin Ackermann, and not for anyone else in the league.
There are no APL figures for Ackermann yet. The 2026-27 season has not started, and he did not play in the 2018 season. His first APL numbers will come after Balkh’s first match.
Where he fits at Balkh Zwanan
Ackermann is the third all-rounder in a group with Moeen Ali and Gulbadin Naib, and the one whose job is the least glamorous: hold the middle order together when the openers fall early, and bowl the overs that break a partnership when the spinners need a rest. Balkh Zwanan play eight league matches — every opponent twice — and a side that bats deep wins the close games that decide who reaches the top four.
His experience is the point. Two hundred and twenty-six domestic T20s means he has seen every situation a T20 match can produce, and a drafted side full of debutants needs exactly that. The final is on Wednesday 20 January 2027. APL Schedule will carry Balkh’s dates once the Afghanistan Cricket Board publishes the fixture list, and the season in full is on APL.
Frequently asked questions
Which country does Colin Ackermann play for?
The Netherlands. He was born in George, South Africa, made his T20I debut against Ireland on 5 October 2019, and his ODI debut against South Africa on 26 November 2021. His county is Durham.
How many domestic T20 matches has Colin Ackermann played?
226 domestic T20 matches by the time of the APL draft in November 2026 — a decade of county and franchise cricket.
Has Colin Ackermann played in the APL before?
No. APL 2026-27 is his debut in the league — he was not in any of the five squads in the first season in 2018.
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