10. Sayed Shirzad (Kandahar Knights): The left-arm quick bowler had no previous representative experience to recommend him as one to watch before this APL. And yet he ended the league phase as the leading wicket-taker with 16. A potential successor to Shapoor Zadran for Afghanistan. Chris Whiteoak / The National
1. Hazratullah Zazai (Kabul Zwanan): The left-handed opener ensured the tournament made global sporting headlines by hitting six sixes in an over against Balkh Legends. That was part of a record-equalling fastest half-century in T20 cricket history. And he had scored the only century, too. Satish Kumar for The National
2. Mohammed Shahzad (Paktia Panthers): Surely there is no more entertaining cricketer in the world than the roly-poly Paktia captain. He chats incessantly – to players, officials and even groundstaff - and did not seem to rate captaincy. But his shot-making is remarkable. Chris Whiteoak / The National
3. Anton Devcich (Nagarhar Leopards): In 2014, Devcich made his lone one-day international half-century for New Zealand against Pakistan in Sharjah. The left-hander clearly has a liking for the place, as shown by his early run-spree in the APL, including 94 not out against Kabul. Chris Whiteoak / The National
5. Darwish Rasooli (Balkh Legends): Afghanistan’s leading young cricketers gained much from this tournament, and few more so than 18-year-old batsman Rasooli. Despite his youth, he looked like he belonged in the company of Chris Gayle et al. The national selectors will have taken note. Chris Whiteoak / The National
6. Mohammed Nabi (Balkh Legends, captain): The thrill of the six hit loses some of its potency when they happen as often as they do in the APL. That said, Nabi’s power is spectacular. One six he hit in a semi-final blitzkrieg ended up in Sharjah football club without bouncing. Chris Whiteoak / The National
7. Karim Janat (Kandahar Knights): The younger brother of Kandahar and Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan, but he made a name for himself in this APL. Relatively miserly with the ball, and a dangerous lower-middle-order batsman. Brendon McCullum labelled him a potential “superstar”. Chris Whiteoak / The National
8. Ben Cutting (Nangarhar Leopards): The global T20 freelancer led an under-performing Nangarhar side from the front, most notably when he took the league stage’s only five-wicket haul in the opening match. The Australian ended with 12 wickets as Nangarhar exited in the semi-final. Chris Whiteoak / The National
9. Qais Ahmed (Balkh Legends): A complete unknown before the APL started – yet managed to finish it as the leading leg-spinner, in a tournament that also included the great Rashid Khan. Bubbled with youthful promise all the way through, then took five wickets in the final. Satish Kumar for The National
10. Sayed Shirzad (Kandahar Knights): The left-arm quick bowler had no previous representative experience to recommend him as one to watch before this APL. And yet he ended the league phase as the leading wicket-taker with 16. A potential successor to Shapoor Zadran for Afghanistan. Chris Whiteoak / The National
1. Hazratullah Zazai (Kabul Zwanan): The left-handed opener ensured the tournament made global sporting headlines by hitting six sixes in an over against Balkh Legends. That was part of a record-equalling fastest half-century in T20 cricket history. And he had scored the only century, too. Satish Kumar for The National
2. Mohammed Shahzad (Paktia Panthers): Surely there is no more entertaining cricketer in the world than the roly-poly Paktia captain. He chats incessantly – to players, officials and even groundstaff - and did not seem to rate captaincy. But his shot-making is remarkable. Chris Whiteoak / The National
3. Anton Devcich (Nagarhar Leopards): In 2014, Devcich made his lone one-day international half-century for New Zealand against Pakistan in Sharjah. The left-hander clearly has a liking for the place, as shown by his early run-spree in the APL, including 94 not out against Kabul. Chris Whiteoak / The National
5. Darwish Rasooli (Balkh Legends): Afghanistan’s leading young cricketers gained much from this tournament, and few more so than 18-year-old batsman Rasooli. Despite his youth, he looked like he belonged in the company of Chris Gayle et al. The national selectors will have taken note. Chris Whiteoak / The National
6. Mohammed Nabi (Balkh Legends, captain): The thrill of the six hit loses some of its potency when they happen as often as they do in the APL. That said, Nabi’s power is spectacular. One six he hit in a semi-final blitzkrieg ended up in Sharjah football club without bouncing. Chris Whiteoak / The National
7. Karim Janat (Kandahar Knights): The younger brother of Kandahar and Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan, but he made a name for himself in this APL. Relatively miserly with the ball, and a dangerous lower-middle-order batsman. Brendon McCullum labelled him a potential “superstar”. Chris Whiteoak / The National
8. Ben Cutting (Nangarhar Leopards): The global T20 freelancer led an under-performing Nangarhar side from the front, most notably when he took the league stage’s only five-wicket haul in the opening match. The Australian ended with 12 wickets as Nangarhar exited in the semi-final. Chris Whiteoak / The National
9. Qais Ahmed (Balkh Legends): A complete unknown before the APL started – yet managed to finish it as the leading leg-spinner, in a tournament that also included the great Rashid Khan. Bubbled with youthful promise all the way through, then took five wickets in the final. Satish Kumar for The National
10. Sayed Shirzad (Kandahar Knights): The left-arm quick bowler had no previous representative experience to recommend him as one to watch before this APL. And yet he ended the league phase as the leading wicket-taker with 16. A potential successor to Shapoor Zadran for Afghanistan. Chris Whiteoak / The National
