PCB unveils 2026–27 Domestic Cricket Calendar

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday unveiled its 2026–27 Men’s Domestic Cricket Calendar, introducing an expanded domestic structure, new regional teams and revamped tournaments.

The domestic season will run from August 11, 2026, to June 15, 2027, featuring two List-A tournaments, three first-class competitions, two T20 events, age-group championships and district-level cricket across the country.

The season will begin with two List-A tournaments as Pakistan shifts its focus towards preparations for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, scheduled to be held in South Africa from October 4 to November 21, 2027.

According to the PCB, the calendar has been designed to support the development of national, domestic, emerging and age-group players while providing aspiring cricketers with greater competitive opportunities.

One of the major changes this season is the expansion of the regional cricket structure with the addition of one team each from Sialkot and Peshawar.

Following the expansion, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Sialkot will each field two regional teams, broadening the domestic talent pool and strengthening the player scouting network.

Quaid-e-Azam trophy revamped

The PCB has also restructured its premier first-class competition, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, by introducing Gold and Silver divisions.

The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Gold will feature the top eight teams from last season and will be played in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Abbottabad from November 1 to December 17. Each team will play seven first-class matches before the top two sides contest the final.

Meanwhile, the former Hanif Mohammad Trophy has been upgraded to first-class status and renamed the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Silver.

The Silver division will feature 12 teams, including the two newly added regional sides from Peshawar and Sialkot, two relegated teams and eight teams from last season’s Hanif Mohammad Trophy. The tournament will run from November 1 to December 5, with the winner earning promotion to the Gold division for the 2027–28 season.

National T20 and departmental competitions

The National T20 Cup will also be played in Gold and Silver divisions.

The Silver competition, featuring 12 teams, will take place in Lahore from February 5 to 19, with the two finalists advancing to the Gold division, scheduled from February 23 to March 6.

Departmental cricket will begin with the President’s Cup Grade-I in Karachi from August 21 to September 8, followed by the President’s Trophy Grade-I and Grade-II Gold and Silver tournaments from September 12 across eight cities.

The PCB said nearly 34 departmental teams will participate in first-class and non-first-class competitions during the season.

The new calendar places significant emphasis on youth cricket through expanded age-group competitions.

Twenty regional teams will compete in both the National U19 Cup and National U19 Championship from September 15 to November 6, while the National U15 One-Day Tournament will run from October 22 to November 6.

The National U17 Two-Day Cup is scheduled from November 10 to December 5, with regional and district trials taking place in September.

School cricket expanded nationwide

The PCB has also expanded its Talent Hunt Programme for Schools, increasing participation from 450 to 1,200 schools and extending coverage from 39 districts to 100 districts.

District Challenge Leagues, Inter-District U19 competitions and senior Inter-District tournaments will also continue throughout the season as part of the board’s grassroots development programme.

The PCB said the 2026–27 domestic calendar is designed to strengthen Pakistan’s cricket ecosystem by expanding competitive opportunities, enhancing talent identification and building a stronger pipeline of players for future international competitions.