PCB Unveils 2025-26 Domestic Season with Focus on Merit and High Competition

Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially unveiled its comprehensive domestic cricket calendar for the 2025-26 season, placing strong emphasis on competitiveness, merit-based qualification, and player development across all levels.

The domestic season will kick off on 15 August with the Hanif Mohammad Trophy – a non-first-class, four-day competition featuring 12 regional teams, split into two pools. The top two teams from this tournament will qualify for Pakistan’s premier first-class competition, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, set to begin on 22 September. The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy will feature eight teams, including last season’s top performers and the two qualifiers, and will conclude with the final from 3 to 7 November.

Matches for both tournaments will be held across Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Karachi, Multan, Bahawalpur, and Rahim Yar Khan, with specific venues to be announced later.

To enhance the standard of T20 cricket, PCB has also introduced a qualifier round for the National T20 Cup. Ten teams will compete for two spots in the Super 10 stage, which will be held in Faisalabad from 1 to 12 March 2026. Eight teams have already secured direct qualification based on past performances.

The calendar also features a full slate of departmental tournaments, including:

• President’s Trophy (First-Class) – 15 Dec to 30 Jan 2026

• President’s Cup (One-Day) – 24 Nov to 10 Dec 2025

• President’s Trophy Grade II and III – March to May 2026

In addition, age-group cricket continues to be a core component of the structure, with U15, U17, and U19 national tournaments scheduled throughout the season. Inter-district and school/college/university cricket competitions are also included to ensure grassroots engagement.

PCB COO Sumair Ahmed Syed said,

“The 2025-26 season has been designed to reward performance and provide clear progression pathways. Qualifiers for our top-tier competitions add meaningful context to every match, creating a high-performance culture that prepares our players for international demands.”

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Director Domestic Cricket Operations Abdullah Khurram Niazi added,

“This calendar reflects our commitment to a competitive and inclusive domestic structure. From clubs to departments, and juniors to seniors, we are building a system that identifies and nurtures talent at every level.”

Top performers in the Hanif Mohammad Trophy will also be eligible for selection as guest players in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and may be offered domestic contracts, an initiative aimed at incentivizing excellence and strengthening regional squads.