Qaid-e-Azam trophy culled by PCB as part of latest overhaul while also cutting down the Champions Cup tournament.
With only eight regional teams participating in the Quaid-e-Azam trophy (QeA) and the elimination of the highly contested Champions Cup competitions from the schedule after just one season, the PCB has once again redesigned its domestic system. The President’s Trophy and Cup, two distinct competitions that have long been a part of the Pakistani home circuit, are still reserved for departmental teams.
The QeA Trophy may not eventually include a team from Karachi, the nation’s largest metropolis and economic centre, in the top first-class competition. This is one of the main possible repercussions of reducing the number of teams from the previous season’s bloated 18 to only eight this year. Based on where they finished in the QeA Trophy the previous year, the Karachi Blues and Karachi Whites will both compete in the non-first class Hanif Mohammad Trophy, which is one level below the QeA.
However, at that point, none of the teams knew that the competition would be changed in a way that would practically result in 12 teams being demoted. The top two teams from that competition will advance to compete in the QeA Trophy, which is the path a Karachi team can take to advance, and the domestic season will begin on August 15.
Karachi has long been a domestic powerhouse, both in terms of trophies won and as a source of talent, however things have slightly shifted in recent decades. The cricket community in the city will not be pleased with the development.
The PCB claimed that “increased competitiveness” was the reason behind the adjustments. A single league format will now be used for the competition, which will consist of 29 games between September 22 and November 7. Although the PCB did not explain why it had limited the tournament to the twin cities, all of the matches will take place at four locations in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
The board has also subtly cancelled the Champions Cup series of events in keeping with the idea of reversing the calendar. It was marketed as a flagship tournament in each of the game’s three formats, with five teams and, presumably, the greatest players in the nation. It was introduced last season with a lot of fanfare and a high price tag.
“We are pleased to unveil a domestic structure that places merit, opportunity and competitiveness at its core,” PCB’s chief operating officer Sumair Ahmed Syed said in a statement. “The 2025-26 season has been designed to provide a clear pathway for teams and players to progress based on performance, not reputation.
“Introducing a qualifier for both the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and the National T20 ensures that every match in our domestic calendar carries significant weight. This not only raises the standard of competition but also fosters a high-performance culture across all formats.
“The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy will now feature the most in-form and deserving teams, while the Hanif Mohammad Trophy gives 12 regions a meaningful chance to stake their claim. Similarly, the Super 10 format of the National T20 is a step towards creating more high-intensity, quality cricket.”