PCB shares domestic cricket calendar 2025–26

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday unveiled its domestic cricket calendar for the 2025-26 season, introducing a structure based on merit, performance and competition.

The schedule includes revamped formats, qualifying stages for key tournaments, and a broader platform for regional and departmental teams.

In addition, the domestic season will begin on August 15 with the Hanif Muhammad Trophy, a non-first-class four-day competition involving 12 regional teams. The matches will be held in Karachi, Multan, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan.

The tournament will consist of 31 matches with teams divided into two pools. The top two teams will qualify for the premier first-class competition, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, starting September 22.

Moreover, the participating regional teams include Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, FATA, Lahore Region Blues, Hyderabad, Karachi Region Blues, Karachi Region Whites, Multan, Quetta, DM Jamali, AJK, and Larkana, the same teams that participated in last season’s Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2025–26 will consist of eight teams, including Lahore Region Whites, Sialkot, Peshawar, Islamabad, Abbottabad, Bahawalpur, and the two qualifiers from the Hanif Mohammad Trophy.

Also, the tournament will follow a single-league format with 29 matches scheduled.

The final is set for November 3–7, with games to be played across venues in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

A new qualifying round has been added to the National T20 competition. Ten teams—Abbottabad, Multan, Quetta, Bahawalpur, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, FATA, Larkana, D.M. Jamali, and AJK—will compete in this phase, divided into two pools.

The top two teams will advance to the National T20 Super 10 tournament, scheduled to be held in Faisalabad from March 1–12, 2026.

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 cricket remains a central part of the structure, with four tournaments:

• President’s Trophy (first-class)
• President’s Cup (One-Day)
• President’s Trophy Grade II (three-day)
• President’s Trophy Grade III (two-day)

PCB Director of Domestic Cricket Operations, Abdullah Khurram Niazi, highlighted the importance of youth development and clear pathways from grassroots to professional cricket.

The age-group tournaments for U15, U17, and U19 will run throughout the season, providing exposure and opportunities to young talent.

Standout players from the Hanif Mohammad Trophy will be eligible to appear as guest players in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and may also be considered for domestic contracts.