Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2025-26: PCB Confirms Revised Schedule, Tournament to Start on October 6

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially confirmed the full schedule for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2025-26, turning its focus back to the country’s premier red-ball domestic competition. The tournament, which was initially set to commence in September, faced an unexpected delay due to the Hanif Mohammad Trophy but is now scheduled to begin on Monday, 6 October, across four host cities: Abbottabad, Islamabad, Peshawar, and Rawalpindi.

The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy will adopt a single-league round-robin format this season, with nine rounds comprising 46 matches set to be played between 6 October and 26 November. The five-day final will be held from 29 November to 3 December.

A total of 10 teams will compete for domestic glory: Abbottabad, Bahawalpur, FATA, Faisalabad, Islamabad, Karachi Blues, Lahore Whites, Multan, Peshawar, and Sialkot. Notably, FATA, Faisalabad, Karachi Blues, and Multan earned their spots in this season’s Quaid-e-Azam Trophy after finishing at the top of the points table in the recently concluded Hanif Mohammad Trophy.

“Quaid-e-Azam Trophy continues to serve as the most important platform for red-ball cricketers to showcase their skill. With new teams rising from the Hanif Mohammad Trophy and seasoned outfits hungry for silverware, this edition promises fierce competition and fresh narratives.”

The opening round of matches will be played from 6 to 9 October, featuring the following fixtures:

• Abbottabad Region vs Bahawalpur Region at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium
• Lahore Region Whites vs Islamabad Region at Shoaib Akhtar Stadium (KRL), Rawalpindi
• Peshawar Region vs Sialkot Region at Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, Peshawar
• FATA Region vs Multan Region at Diamond Cricket Ground, Islamabad
• Faisalabad Region vs Karachi Region Blues at Marghzar Cricket Ground, Islamabad

The tournament schedule includes matches hosted at four venues throughout the league stage, offering fans across different regions the chance to witness top-tier domestic cricket action.

Squads for all participating teams will be announced in the coming days as preparations ramp up for what is expected to be an intense and competitive domestic season.