Department teams return as PCB unveils new domestic structure

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled new domestic structure and schedule for the first-class and grade-II tournaments. With the restoration of the 2014 constitution, the domestic season will feature separate tournaments for regional teams and departments.

Set to kick off on September 20, the premier first-class tournament Quaid-e-Azam Trophy will be contested by top eight regional teams in a single-league format. Following this, the President’s Trophy will begin on December 15, featuring the top eight departmental teams in another single-league format.

The table toppers would then feature in the final.

Among the 18 regional teams, eight will compete in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. The remaining 10 regions will participate in the Hanif Mohammad Trophy, a non-first-class four-day tournament.

The teams have been ranked based on their standings in the 2018-19 season.

The restructuring of the domestic cricket system was overseen by the PCB cricket technical committee, headed by former captain Misbah ul Haq and including former captain Mohammad Hafeez.

See more: Misbah-ul-Haq appointed advisor to PCB chief

The new structure is aimed at enhancing the competitiveness and quality of domestic cricket in Pakistan, providing opportunities for players across various regions and departments to showcase their skills in the red-ball format.

➡️ The domestic structure explainer 🔊

🗣️ Director Domestic Cricket Operations (A) Junaid Zia explains the salient points of the upcoming domestic season

More details ➡️ https://t.co/K7QnYLj5Vi pic.twitter.com/XWOOqmAw0u

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 11, 2023

Schedule

Quaid-e-Azam Trophy: 10th September to 26th October

Hanif Mohammad Trophy: 10th September to 13th October

President’s Trophy: from December 15

Teams

Quaid-e-Azam Trophy: Peshawar, Karachi Whites, Lahore Blues, Rawalpindi, FATA, Multan, Lahore Whites and Faisalabad

Hanif Mohammad Trophy: Abbottabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Bahawalpur, Dera Murad Jamali, Hyderabad, Karachi Blues, Larkana, Quetta, Sialkot and Islamabad

President’s Trophy: SNGPL, SSGC, WAPDA, KRL, PTV, NBP, State Bank, 8th team to be announced in due course

Venues

Quaid-e-Azam Trophy: Lahore, Rawalpindi and Abbotabad

• Hanif Mohammad Trophy: Faisalabad, Multan and Islamabad

• President’s Trophy: Karachi

In January and February 2024, Patron’s Trophy grade-II with three-day games and grade-III (two-day games) will run concurrently all over the country.

Teams winning the Hanif Mohammad Trophy, Patron’s Trophy grade-II and grade-III will earn promotions. The teams who finish at the bottom of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, President’s Trophy and Patron’s Trophy grade-II will be relegated to the lower rung. 

Every regional team must have one player under the age of 21 in playing XI and at least two in the 30-player squad. These players must have come through PCB’s age-group programme.