The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that the 2025-26 domestic cricket season will commence with the Hanif Mohammad Trophy (HMT) starting on Friday, August 29.
This four-day, non-first-class tournament will feature 12 regional teams competing for two coveted spots in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. The competition is scheduled to conclude on Thursday, September 25.
Originally slated to begin on August 15, the tournament was delayed to ensure the availability of Pakistan Shaheens’ players for their respective regional teams.
This adjustment highlights PCB’s commitment to balancing player commitments across tiers.
Group A matches will be played in Bahawalpur, Multan and Rahim Yar Khan, while it comprises of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), Faisalabad, Hyderabad, Karachi Whites, Lahore Blues and Quetta.
Group B teams include Dera Murad Jamali, FATA, Karachi Blues, Larkana, Multan and Rawalpindi. Their matches will be played in Karachi.
The tournament will see five rounds being played in 28 days with each round consisting of six matches. Each team is set to play five matches and the topper of each group will qualify for the premier first-class tournament Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, which is set to be played right after HMT.
The 12 regional sides are set to assemble their squads from the pool of their past seasons’ performers and top performers of Regional Inter-District three-day tournament, which took place in June and July across the country.
Group A:
Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), Faisalabad, Hyderabad, Karachi Whites, Lahore Blues and Quetta
Group B:
Dera Murad Jamali, FATA, Karachi Blues, Larkana, Multan and Rawalpindi
