The much-anticipated Quaid-e-Azam Trophy for the 2025-26 season is poised to kick off on 6 October, marking a significant event in Pakistan’s cricket calendar.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that the 10-team competition will unfold across four major cities-Abbottabad, Islamabad, Peshawar, and Rawalpindi-setting the stage for an intense showdown among the nation”s top cricketing talents.
The tournament will adopt a single-league round-robin format, with nine rounds scheduled between 6 October and 26 November. The climax of the domestic cricket season will see the top two teams vying for supremacy in a five-day final from 29 November to 3 December. The venue for this ultimate contest remains under wraps, adding an element of suspense to the high-stakes tournament.
Matches will be hosted at four prominent locations: Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Shoaib Akhtar Stadium in Rawalpindi, Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar, and the Diamond and Marghzar Cricket Grounds in Islamabad. Notably, Peshawar joins the list of venues this year, while the other three have previously hosted the prestigious event.
Teams competing in this edition include Abbottabad, Bahawalpur, FATA, Faisalabad, Islamabad, Karachi Blues, Lahore Whites, Multan, Peshawar, and Sialkot. Four teams-FATA, Faisalabad, Karachi Blues, and Multan-earned their spots in the tournament by excelling in the recently concluded Hanif Mohammad Trophy.
In a thrilling start to the series, defending champions Sialkot are set to clash with Peshawar at the Imran Khan Stadium, revisiting last year”s final where Sialkot clinched victory by a narrow margin at Karachi”s UBL Sports Complex.
The initial round of fixtures will feature exciting match-ups, including Abbottabad against Bahawalpur, Lahore Whites versus Islamabad, and Faisalabad squaring off against Karachi Blues. Cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the announcement of team squads, which PCB promises will be released shortly.
As the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy gears up to enthrall fans, the domestic cricket scene is set for a period of intense competition, showcasing the depth and talent of Pakistani cricket.