(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
PCB Announces Overhauled Domestic Cricket Structure for 2025–26 Season
LAHORE – The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a revamped domestic cricket calendar for the 2025–26 season, introducing major changes to the structure of national competitions. The new schedule features 522 matches across 12 tournaments, with notable updates to the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Hanif Mohammad Trophy, and other domestic fixtures.
Quaid-e-Azam Trophy: Fewer Teams, More Competitive Format
A major highlight of the revised structure is a streamlined Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan’s premier first-class tournament. Only eight regional teams will participate this season, significantly reduced from 18 teams in 2024–25.
According to the PCB, the top six teams from last season have earned direct qualification, while the remaining two slots will be decided through the Hanif Mohammad Trophy — a non-first-class qualifying tournament starting August 15.
Hanif Mohammad Trophy: A Crucial Qualifier
The Hanif Mohammad Trophy will feature teams from Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, FATA, Hyderabad, Multan, Quetta, Dera Murad Jamali, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Larkana, and both Blues and Whites squads from Karachi and Lahore. A total of 31 matches will be played across Karachi, Multan, Bahawalpur, and Rahim Yar Khan.
Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Schedule & Qualified Teams
The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy will be held from September 22 to November 7, featuring 29 matches at venues in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Among the automatically qualified regions are:
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Islamabad
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Peshawar
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Abbottabad
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Sialkot
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Bahawalpur
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Lahore Region Whites
Notably, Karachi did not have any team in the top six last season and must now qualify via the Hanif Mohammad Trophy, as must one of the Lahore teams.
Structural Changes Across Domestic Competitions
In addition to changes in regional tournaments, the President’s Trophy for departmental teams has been restructured into a three-tier format:
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Grade-I (First-Class)
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Grade-II
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Grade-III
Other departmental competitions, such as the President’s Cup (One-Day), will also be held during the season.
National T20 Championship: New Qualifying Format
The National T20 Championship will now feature a qualifying round. Ten teams will compete for two spots in the Super 10 stage, which is scheduled to be played in Faisalabad from March 1 to 12, 2026.
Teams already qualified for the Super 10 include:
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Karachi Region Whites
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Lahore Region Whites
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Peshawar
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Karachi Region Blues
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Sialkot
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Islamabad
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Faisalabad
Concerns Over Women’s Cricket and Youth Competitions
The updated calendar does not include a national women’s tournament, nor has the U-19 regional three-day tournament, which was halted last year, been reinstated. The absence of these competitions has raised concerns among cricket followers regarding the PCB’s commitment to inclusive development.
PCB’s Vision: Competitiveness and Talent Development
The PCB stated that the revised structure aims to promote merit-based selection, increase competitiveness, and establish clearer pathways for emerging talent across all regions.
While the new model brings a more performance-driven approach, it also underscores the need for continuity and inclusiveness, especially in areas such as women’s cricket and youth development programs.
