PCB Unveils Domestic Cricket Schedule

Pakistan’s Domestic Cricket Calendar for 2025-26 Season

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially announced the domestic cricket calendar for the 2025-26 season, with a strong focus on enhancing competitiveness and providing opportunities for emerging talent. The new structure aims to ensure that performance, rather than reputation, determines success in various tournaments.

Hanif Mohammad Trophy: A Gateway to Excellence

The domestic season will kick off on 15 August with the Hanif Mohammad Trophy, a non-first-class tournament featuring 12 regional teams. This competition will be held in Karachi, Multan, Bahawalpur, and Rahim Yar Khan, with 31 matches scheduled over four days. The top two teams from this tournament will qualify for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, the premier first-class competition of the season.

The 12 teams participating in the Hanif Mohammad Trophy are the same as those that competed in the previous season’s Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. These include Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, FATA, Lahore Region Blues, Hyderabad, Karachi Region Blues, Karachi Region Whites, Multan, Quetta, D.M Jamali, AJK, and Larkana.

Quaid-e-Azam Trophy: A Competitive First-Class Tournament

The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy will feature eight teams, including the two qualifying sides from the Hanif Mohammad Trophy. The teams participating in this tournament are Lahore Region Whites, Sialkot, Peshawar, Islamabad, Abbottabad, Bahawalpur, and the two teams that advance from the Hanif Mohammad Trophy. The tournament is set to begin on September 22 and will consist of 29 matches in a single-league format, with the final scheduled from November 3 to 7. Matches will be held at venues across Islamabad and Rawalpindi, with more details to be announced soon.

National T20 Qualifier: A New Era of Competition

To further enhance competitiveness, a qualifier stage has been introduced for the National T20. Ten teams—Abbottabad, Multan, Quetta, Bahawalpur, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, FATA, Larkana, D.M. Jamali, and AJK—will compete in the qualifier round. These teams will be divided into two pools, with the top two sides progressing to the National T20 (Super 10) tournament, which will be held in Faisalabad from March 1 to 12.

Eight teams have automatically qualified for the Super 10 stage: Karachi Region Whites, Lahore Region Whites, Peshawar, Karachi Region Blues, Sialkot, Islamabad, and Faisalabad.

Departmental Tournaments: Supporting All Levels of Cricket

In addition to the regional competitions, four departmental tournaments will be part of the domestic season. These include the President’s Trophy (four-day, first-class), President’s Cup (One-Day), President’s Trophy Grade II, and President’s Trophy Grade III. These tournaments aim to maintain the importance of departmental cricket while providing a platform for players to showcase their skills.

Commitment to Talent Development

Sumair Ahmed Syed, PCB Chief Operating Officer, emphasized the board’s commitment to creating a competitive and merit-based environment. He stated, “The 2025-26 season has been designed to provide a clear pathway for teams and players to progress based on performance, not reputation.”

Abdullah Khurram Niazi, Director – Domestic Cricket Operations, highlighted the importance of nurturing talent at all levels. He said, “The 2025-26 domestic season reflects our commitment to building a competitive and inclusive structure that nurtures talent at every level, from grassroots to senior cricket.”

Youth Development and Future Prospects

The domestic season also includes U15, U17, and U19 age-group tournaments, which serve as crucial stepping stones for young talent. These competitions help identify and develop future national stars early in their careers.

Moreover, the top performers of the Hanif Mohammad Trophy will not only be recognized as guest players by the top regions in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy but will also be considered for domestic contracts. This initiative aims to incentivize excellence and create a culture of continuous improvement.

Conclusion

The 2025-26 domestic cricket calendar marks a significant step forward in Pakistan’s cricketing landscape. With a focus on performance, inclusivity, and development, the PCB is laying the foundation for long-term growth and preparing future stars for the demands of international cricket.