The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan’s premier domestic first-class tournament, will begin on October 6 with a historic expansion to ten regional teams. The change comes after multiple revisions to the qualification criteria, marking a significant step for the country’s domestic cricket structure.
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Traditionally featuring eight teams, this year’s tournament has been broadened to accommodate a larger pool of talent. Initially, the PCB planned for the top six teams from the previous season, joined by the two best-performing teams from the Hanif Mohammad Trophy. However, after the conclusion of that competition, the board revised its decision twice before finalizing the format. Ultimately, qualification was based on the overall points table across all groups of the Hanif Mohammad Trophy.
As a result, FATA, Faisalabad, Karachi Blues, and Multan earned qualification spots. Multan’s inclusion was particularly notable, as they secured a place despite finishing third in their group, edging out Lahore Blues, who had placed second in another group. These four sides will join Abbottabad, Bahawalpur, Islamabad, Lahore Whites, Peshawar, and defending champions Sialkot to make up the ten-team lineup.
The 2025 edition will be staged across four cities: Abbottabad, Islamabad, Peshawar, and Rawalpindi. Matches will take place at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Shoaib Akhtar Stadium in Rawalpindi, Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar, and both the Diamond and Marghzar Cricket Grounds in Islamabad. Notably, Peshawar will host Quaid-e-Azam Trophy matches for the first time in this cycle, with the Imran Khan Stadium adding fresh energy to the competition.
The tournament will follow a single-league round-robin format, with nine rounds scheduled from October 6 to November 26. The top two teams will progress to the five-day final, set for November 29 to December 3, with the venue to be announced later.
Excitement is already building for the opening round, which includes a marquee clash between defending champions Sialkot and last year’s finalists Peshawar at the Imran Khan Stadium. Their previous encounter in the final was one of the most dramatic in recent memory, with Sialkot clinching victory by a single wicket. Other opening fixtures include Abbottabad taking on Bahawalpur, Lahore Whites meeting Islamabad, FATA facing Multan, and Faisalabad locking horns with Karachi Blues.
The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy remains a vital platform for nurturing domestic cricketers and providing opportunities for emerging talent to showcase their skills. The expansion to ten teams reflects PCB’s intent to widen the competitive field while keeping traditions intact. Squads for all ten sides are expected to be revealed in the coming days, with cricket fans eagerly awaiting the blend of seasoned performers and rising stars who will battle for supremacy in Pakistan’s most prestigious first-class competition.
