PCB Expands Quaid-e-Azam Trophy to 10 Teams

News Desk

Lahore: In a major shake-up to Pakistan’s domestic cricket structure, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expanded the upcoming Quaid-e-Azam Trophy to include 10 regional teams, marking the tournament’s largest lineup in years. 

The country’s premier first-class competition is set to begin on October 6 across four cities — Abbottabad, Islamabad, Peshawar, and Rawalpindi.

The decision follows a series of last-minute changes to the qualification criteria, reflecting the

PCB’s evolving approach to broadening participation in red-ball cricket. 

Initially, the board had planned to include the top six teams from last year’s edition along with the top two from the ongoing Hanif Mohammad Trophy. However, after multiple revisions, the final selection was made based on the combined points tally of all eight Hanif Mohammad Trophy teams, regardless of group standings.

This adjustment paved the way for Multan to qualify despite finishing third in its group — edging out Lahore Blues, who had placed second in the other group. 

The four qualifiers emerging from the Hanif Mohammad Trophy are FATA, Faisalabad, Karachi Blues, and Multan. They will join Abbottabad, Bahawalpur, Islamabad, Lahore Whites, Peshawar, and defending champions Sialkot to complete the 10-team lineup.

The tournament will be contested in a single-league round-robin format, comprising nine rounds from October 6 to November 26, followed by a five-day final between the top two teams from November 29 to December 3.

The first round promises a fiery start, featuring a rematch of last year’s thrilling final between Sialkot and Peshawar at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar — a contest Sialkot had clinched by just one wicket. 

Other opening fixtures include Abbottabad vs Bahawalpur, Lahore Whites vs Islamabad, FATA vs Multan, and Faisalabad vs Karachi Blues.

Matches will be played at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Shoaib Akhtar Stadium (Rawalpindi), Imran Khan Cricket Stadium (Peshawar), and Diamond and Marghzar Grounds (Islamabad) — with Peshawar returning as a host city after missing the previous edition.

The PCB said team squads will be announced soon, signaling the start of what could be one of the most competitive and geographically diverse domestic seasons in recent memory.