Merwais Nika Regional 3-Day Trophy (Afghanistan) 2025/26

The Merwais Nika Regional 3-Day Trophy stands as a first-class domestic cricket competition in Afghanistan, organized by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB). Named in honor of Mirwais Nika, a former Afghan cricketer who died in a car accident in 2008, the tournament serves as a key developmental pathway for players aspiring to reach the higher-profile Ahmad Shah Abdali 4-Day Tournament. The competition sits in the domestic pyramid as a parallel first-class event, with top performers selected for the national team pathway without promotion or relegation between the two fixed-team structures.

In 2022, the format shifted from provincial teams to regional teams, resulting in the current five-team lineup. The participating sides are Amo Region (Northern), Band-e-Amir Region (Central), Boost Region (Southwestern), Mis Ainak Region (Southeastern), and Speen Ghar Region (Eastern). The season operates on a round-robin league basis where each team plays every other team once, followed by a final between the top two teams. All matches are three days in duration, emphasizing player endurance and tactical depth.

Notable winners include Boost Region, which claimed titles in 2022 and 2024, and Mis Ainak Region, which won in 2023. Speen Ghar Region entered the 2026 edition as defending champions after securing the title in 2025. The 2026 competition was officially titled the "e& Mirwais Nika Three-Day Tournament 2026, powered by Super Cola," highlighting Super Cola as a recent sponsor while Etisalat (e&) remains a major ACB sponsor associated with the branding. This structure ensures the tournament remains distinct from shorter formats such as the Shpageeza Cricket League, which allows international players, and the regional one-day competition.