ISLAMABAD
\nThe Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the domestic cricket calendar for the 2025-26 season, with an emphasis on increased competitiveness, highlighted by an eight-team Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (first-class) tournament.
\nThe domestic season will commence on 15 August with the 12-team Hanif Mohammad Trophy (non-first-class) being staged in Karachi, Multan, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan, said a press release on Monday.
\nThe teams are divided into two pools, with 31 matches scheduled in the four-day tournament. The top two sides will qualify for this season\u2019s premier first-class competition \u2013 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
\nThe 12 regional sides participating in the Hanif Mohammad Trophy are the same teams that competed in last season\u2019s Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
\nBased on last season\u2019s standings, these are: Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, FATA, Lahore Region Blues, Hyderabad, Karachi Region Blues, Karachi Region Whites, Multan, Quetta, D.M Jamali, AJK and Larkana.
\nThe Quaid-e-Azam Trophy will feature Lahore Region Whites, Sialkot, Peshawar, Islamabad, Abbottabad, Bahawalpur and the two qualifying teams.
\nThe tournament is set to begin on September 22 and will comprise 29 matches in a single-league format, with the final scheduled from November 3 to 7. Matches will be held at four venues across Islamabad and Rawalpindi, with further details to be announced in due course.
\nTo further enhance competitiveness, a qualifying stage has also been introduced for the National T20. 10 teams \u2013 Abbottabad, Multan, Quetta, Bahawalpur, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, FATA, Larkana, D.M. Jamali, and AJK will compete in the qualifier round.
\nThese 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.
\nThe eight teams automatically qualified for the Super 10 stage are: Karachi Region Whites, Lahore Region Whites, Peshawar, Karachi Region Blues, Sialkot, Islamabad and Faisalabad.
\nFour departmental tournaments \u2013 President\u2019s Trophy (four-day, first-class), President\u2019s Cup (One-Day), President\u2019s Trophy Grade II and President\u2019s Trophy Grade III will also feature in this domestic season.
\nPCB Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmed Syed said, \u201cWe are pleased to unveil a domestic structure that places merit, opportunity and competitiveness at its core.
\nThe 2025-26 season has been designed to provide a clear pathway for teams and players to progress based on performance, not reputation.
\n\u201cIntroducing a qualifier for both the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and the National T20 ensures that every match in our domestic calendar carries significant weight. This not only raises the standard of competition but also fosters a high-performance culture across all formats.
\n\u201cThe Quaid-e-Azam Trophy will now feature the most in-form and deserving teams, while the Hanif Mohammad Trophy gives 12 regions a meaningful chance to stake their claim. Similarly, the Super 10 format of the National T20 is a step towards creating more high-intensity, quality cricket.
\n\u201cOur aim is to reward performance and create a vibrant environment where players and teams are constantly challenged. This structure lays the foundation for a long-term growth and helps us prepare future stars for the demands of international cricket.\u201d
\nDirector \u2013 Domestic Cricket Operations Abdullah Khurram Niazi said, \u201cThe 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. By aligning our tournaments across age-group and senior formats, we are creating a clear development pathway for young cricketers.
\n\u201cWe have placed equal emphasis on both regional and departmental cricket. The inclusion of a first-class and a one-day tournament exclusively for departments, along with Grade II and Grade III departmental competitions, ensures departments remain a vital pillar of our domestic cricket system.
\n\u201cWe are looking forward to U15, U17 and U19 age-group tournaments this season. These competitions will serve as vital stepping stones for young talent, helping us identify and groom future national stars early in their careers.
\n\u201cAlso, the top performers of the Hanif Mohammad Trophy will not only be recognised as guest players by the top regions in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, but they will also be considered for domestic contracts, a move aimed at incentivising excellence.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the domestic cricket calendar for the 2025-26 season, with an emphasis on increased competitiveness, highlighted by an eight-team Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (first-class) tournament. The domestic season will commence on 15 August with the 12-team Hanif Mohammad Trophy (non-first-class) being staged in Karachi, Multan, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":488906,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-488882","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n