PCB Unveils 2026–27 Domestic Cricket Season Schedule

LAHORE: (Sports Reporter) – The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the schedule for the 2026–27 domestic cricket season, with the campaign set to begin on August 11 in Multan. The calendar has been structured to help prepare players for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup through an increased emphasis on white-ball cricket.

The new season will start with national limited-overs tournaments, giving players additional opportunities to sharpen their skills ahead of upcoming international events.

The domestic red-ball season will begin on September 12 with the President’s Trophy Grade-I and Grade-II (Gold and Silver) competitions. Meanwhile, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Gold and Silver divisions are scheduled to get underway on November 1.

The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Gold division will feature eight teams, while 12 teams will compete in the Silver division. Both tournaments will retain first-class status, with the existing promotion and relegation system continuing for another season.

To expand the domestic structure, the PCB has increased the number of regional teams from 18 to 20 across 16 regions. Sialkot and Peshawar will now each have two regional teams, joining Lahore and Karachi in having multiple representative sides.

The National T20 Cup Gold and Silver tournaments will take place in Lahore from February 5 to March 6, adding another key event to the domestic calendar.

The PCB has also introduced a new three-day Under-19 competition. In addition, the National Under-19 Cup and National Under-19 Championship will be held from October 22 to December 5, while Under-15 and Under-17 tournaments, along with inter-district competitions, are scheduled throughout October, November, and December.

PCB General Manager for Domestic Cricket Usama Mir said the upcoming season promises to be exciting for players and fans alike. He credited PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi for increasing financial investment in domestic cricket and supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening regional competitions.

Mir added that beginning the season with white-ball tournaments reflects the board’s preparations for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup, while maintaining a strong red-ball structure will continue to play a crucial role in developing future talent.