PCB overhauls Quaid Trophy as Karachi, Lahore face qualification fight

Lahore: In a sweeping revamp of its domestic cricket structure, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has slashed the number of teams in its premier first-class tournament — the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy — from 18 to just eight regional sides for the 2025—26 season. The move forms part of a revised domestic calendar featuring 522 matches across 12 competitions.

The shake-up sees only the top six teams from last season earn direct qualification to the Quaid Trophy, with two additional spots to be filled through the Hanif Mohammad Trophy — a non-first-class qualifying event that begins on August 15. Notably, Karachi, historically a domestic heavyweight, failed to find a place in the top six and must now qualify through the Hanif Mohammad Trophy. Lahore will have just one side in the main draw, with its second team also pushed into the qualifiers.

Among the directly qualified regions are Islamabad, Peshawar, Abbottabad, Bahawalpur, Lahore Region Whites and Sialkot. The Quaid Trophy will run from September 22 to November 7 across venues in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Critics have expressed concern over the frequent structural changes, pointing to a lack of continuity within PCB planning. Just a year ago, the board had introduced a new framework that was expected to bring long-term stability — a promise that appears to have been short-lived.

The President’s Trophy for departmental teams has also been reformatted into a three-tier structure, while the National T20 Cup will now feature a qualifying round for the first time. Ten regional teams will fight for two spots in the Super 10 stage, to be held in Faisalabad from March 1—12, 2026.

Meanwhile, on the international front, Pakistan announced a 15-man squad for their upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh, with vice-captain Shadab Khan and fast bowler Haris Rauf ruled out due to injuries. Salman Ali Agha will lead the side in the three-match series, scheduled from July 20—24 in Dhaka.

Rauf suffered a hamstring injury during the MLC, while Shadab is recovering from shoulder surgery in the UK. Pacer Salman Mirza, who impressed for Lahore Qalandars in PSL 9, has been drafted into the squad.

Pakistan will arrive in Bangladesh on July 16, before heading to the West Indies for a white-ball tour in August. After the series against Bangladesh, Pakistan will tour West Indies for white-ball series comprising three T20Is and as many ODIs, starting from August 1.

The squad for the white-ball series against West Indies will be announced in due course, PCB said.

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza and Sufyan Moqim.