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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled its domestic cricket calendar for the 2025-26 season, prioritizing merit-based competition and clear progression pathways for teams and players.
A new qualification system will determine participation in major tournaments, ensuring a high-performance culture across formats.
Hanif Mohammad Trophy (Non-First-Class) – Season Opener
The domestic season kicks off on 15 August 2025 with the 12-team Hanif Mohammad Trophy, spanning 31 matches over four-day contests. The tournament will be played across Karachi, Multan, Bahawalpur, and Rahim Yar Khan, divided into two groups. The top two teams will secure a spot in this season’s premier first-class tournament—the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
Quaid-e-Azam Trophy – Pakistan’s Premier First-Class Tournament
Beginning on 22 September 2025, this eight-team tournament will feature 29 matches in a single-league format, culminating in the final from 3-7 November. The participating teams include Lahore Region Whites, Sialkot, Peshawar, Islamabad, Abbottabad, Bahawalpur, plus the two qualifiers from the Hanif Mohammad Trophy. All matches will be held in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
National T20 – Introduces Qualifier Stage for Greater Competition
For the first time, the National T20 will include a qualifier round, set for 3-11 February 2026. Ten teams—Abbottabad, Multan, Quetta, Bahawalpur, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, FATA, Larkana, D.M. Jamali, and AJK—will compete for two spots in the Super 10 stage. The main National T20 (Super 10) will run from 1-12 March 2026 in Faisalabad, featuring automatically qualified powerhouses like Karachi Region Whites, Lahore Region Whites, Peshawar, Karachi Region Blues, Sialkot, Islamabad, and Faisalabad.
Departmental Cricket – Retained with Additional Tournaments
The PCB ensures a strong departmental structure with four key tournaments:
- President’s Trophy (First-Class) (15 December 2025 – 30 January 2026)
- President’s Cup (One-Day) (24 November – 10 December 2025)
- President’s Trophy Grade II & III (Three-day and two-day events)
PCB Leadership: Focus on Performance & Development
Sumair Ahmed Syed (PCB Chief Operating Officer) emphasized the importance of meritocracy, stating:
“Our structure ensures teams must earn their place in major tournaments through performance rather than reputation. This raises competitiveness and prepares players for international cricket.”
Abdullah Khurram Niazi (Director – Domestic Cricket Operations) highlighted the pathway for emerging talent:
“From U15 to first-class, our structured competitions ensure talent is groomed at every level. We’re also rewarding standout Hanif Mohammad Trophy players with Quaid-e-Azam Trophy guest spots and potential domestic contracts.”
Future Tournaments (2025-26) at a Glance
Club, School, College, University Cricket (Sep 2025 – Jun 2026)
National U19 Cup (1-16 Sep 2025)
Regional Inter-District U19 (28 Mar – 10 Apr 2026)
