LAHORE – The stage is set, and Pakistan’s cricket stars are heading back to domestic battlefield. Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi are set for a blockbuster opening clash as Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2026-27 kicks off on November 3, bringing together 20 regional teams for a thrilling 60-match battle for first-class supremacy.
The new season promises intense battle for domestic supremacy, with national stars Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Muhammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique among the prominent players named in the participating squads.
The opening round will feature a high-profile encounter between Lahore Whites and FATA at Diamond Cricket Ground in Islamabad, where Babar Azam’s inclusion in the Lahore squad sets up an anticipated contest against a FATA team captained by Shaheen Shah Afridi.
PCB Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2026-27
The championship will feature eight teams in the Gold Division and 12 in the Silver Division, with 29 and 31 matches scheduled respectively. Both competitions will begin on November 3, although their concluding stages will follow different timelines.
| Details | Gold Division | Silver Division |
|---|---|---|
| Teams | 8 | 12 |
| Matches | 29 | 31 |
| Start date | November 3, 2026 | November 3, 2026 |
| League/group matches end | December 12 | November 30 |
| Final dates | December 15–19 | December 3–7 |
| Finalists | Top two teams | Two group winners |
| Final venues | Not announced | Not announced |
| Stakes | National first-class title | Promotion to Gold Division |
Gold Division’s two leading teams will compete in a five-day final from December 15 to 19. Meanwhile, Silver Division teams will fight for more than the championship trophy. The winner of its December 3–7 final will be promoted to the Gold Division for the next domestic season.
Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2026-27: Complete Gold Division Squads
Lahore Whites
Aamer Jamal, Babar Azam, Ali Zaryab, Ahmed Daniyal, Kamran Afzal, Mohib Bhatti, Muhammad Faiq, Tayyab Tahir, Muhammad Akhlaq, Imran Dogar, Muhammad Mohsin, Noman Ali, Salman Mirza, Usman Sohail, Zain Bin Farooq and Zulqarnain Wazir.
FATA
Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Farooq, Mohammad Salman Khan, Usman Maya, Mohammad Sarwar, Kashif Noor, Khushdil Shah, Sirajuddin, Shahid Aziz, Rehan Afridi, Waseem Qureshi, Sameen Gul, Afaq Afridi, Hayatullah and Fawad Arshad.
Karachi Blues
Saud Shakeel, Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Afnan Khan, Danish Aziz, Asad Umar, Ghazi Ghori, Haroon Arshad, Hamza Sohail, Mohammad Umar, Mohammad Asghar, Omair Bin Yousuf, Raza Chandio, Rameez Aziz, Saifullah Bangash and Umar Farooq.
Peshawar Blues
Muhammad Rizwan, Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Haris, Israrullah, Iftikhar Ahmed, Najab Khan, Nabi Gul, Sajid Khan, Mohammad Haleem, Mohammad Irfan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir Khan, Niaz Khan, Mohammad Adnan, Sahibzada Abdullah and Najeebullah.
Multan
Imam-ul-Haq, Moheer Saeed, Uzair Mumtaz, Yousaf Babar, Imran Rafiq, Sharoon Siraj, Mohammad Shahzad, Waseem Akram Jnr, Mohammad Ismail, Aamer Yamin, Hasan Hafeez, Mohammad Shan, Faisal Akram, Waqar Ahmed and Bilal Khan.
Faisalabad
Muhammad Irfan Khan Niazi, Faham-ul-Haq, Asim Ali Nasir, Sameer Saqib, Malik Abdul Rafay, Atiq-ur-Rehman, Awais Zafar, Abdul Samad, Ali Shan, Ali Asfand, Ahmed Safi Abdullah, Shahzad Gul, Asad Raza, Daniyal Ali Khan and Mohammad Muddassar Zunair.
Islamabad
Shamyl Hussain, Rohail Nazir, Ali Imran, Raja Hamza Waheed, Asfandyar, Mohammad Musa, Hammad Khan, Azim Bari, Azan Tariq, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Qaiser, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sajid Raza, Sarmad Bhatti and Umer Hameed.
Sialkot Blues
Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Huraira, Afzaal Manzoor, Tayyab Ali, Shahzaib Bhatti, Ahmed Hassan, Hamza Sheraz, Mohsin Riaz, Abdul Rehman, Hamza Nazar, Mohammad Ali, Ammad Butt, Mohammad Hamza, Hassan Ali and Athar Mahmood.
The PCB has made clear that these squads are subject to change during the competition. Players completing national assignments, along with available reserves, may join their regional teams as the season progresses.
One of the tournament’s biggest attractions is the opening-round meeting between Lahore Whites and FATA, featuring two of Pakistan’s most recognizable cricketers. Babar Azam, Pakistan’s Test captain, has been selected for Lahore Whites, although Aamer Jamal will lead the regional side.
Lahore’s squad includes seasoned spinner Noman Ali alongside Tayyab Tahir, Muhammad Akhlaq and several promising domestic players. Shaheen Shah Afridi, meanwhile, will captain FATA, which features Khushdil Shah, Sameen Gul, Afaq Afridi and Rehan Afridi.
Their encounter at Diamond Cricket Ground is expected to attract significant attention as Pakistan’s international stars return to first-class domestic competition.
Defending Champions Karachi Blues Face Strong Competition
Karachi Blues enter the tournament as defending champions, with Pakistan international Saud Shakeel appointed captain. The side will have the services of Saim Ayub and Usman Khan, while several experienced domestic performers have also been included.
Peshawar Blues appear equally competitive on paper, with Muhammad Rizwan leading a squad featuring Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Haris, Iftikhar Ahmed, Sajid Khan and Abbas Afridi.
Multan will depend on Imam-ul-Haq’s leadership, while Abdullah Shafique will captain Sialkot Blues.
Faisalabad, under Muhammad Irfan Khan Niazi, and Islamabad, led by Shamyl Hussain, will also aim to challenge the established contenders.
Silver Division: 12 Regional Teams Divided Into Two Groups
The second tier of the tournament will involve 12 regional sides competing in two groups of six.
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| Lahore Blues | Karachi Whites |
| Rawalpindi | Azad Jammu and Kashmir |
| Larkana | Hyderabad |
| Quetta | Dera Murad Jamali |
| Bahawalpur | Abbottabad |
| Peshawar Whites | Sialkot Whites |
The Group A schedule will be hosted in Karachi, with KCCA Stadium, SBP Sports Complex and UBL Sports Complex selected as the venues.
Group B matches will take place across southern Punjab, including Multan Cricket Stadium, Sports Complex Rahim Yar Khan and Dring Stadium in Bahawalpur.
The group phase will finish on November 30, allowing the two group winners to advance to the five-day final beginning December 3.
The promotion system adds another dimension to the contest, with the Silver Division champion earning the right to compete against Pakistan’s leading regional teams in the following season.
Peshawar and Sialkot Make First-Class Cricket History
This year’s Quaid-e-Azam Trophy also introduces an important change to regional representation.
For the first time, Peshawar and Sialkot will each field two separate teams in Pakistan’s first-class competition.
Peshawar Blues and Sialkot Blues will participate in the Gold Division, while Peshawar Whites and Sialkot Whites will compete in the Silver Division.
The move expands the number of competitive opportunities available to players representing both regions and increases the depth of regional participation.
Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2026-27 Live Streaming Details
Cricket supporters will be able to follow a substantial portion of the domestic season through digital platforms.
The PCB’s streaming plan includes live coverage of all four Gold Division fixtures during each round on Tamasha and tapmad.
Four of the six Silver Division fixtures per round will also be streamed through the platforms.
The arrangement will allow supporters to watch prominent international players while following performances from emerging regional cricketers who may be competing for future national selection.
Tournament Offers Major Opportunity for Emerging Talent
The presence of Pakistan’s established international cricketers is expected to raise the competitive standard of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
Young batters will have opportunities to face experienced international bowlers, while developing fast bowlers and spinners will be tested against some of the country’s strongest batting lineups.
The extended first-class format will also place emphasis on endurance, batting technique, bowling discipline and the ability to perform consistently across multiple days.
For national selectors, the championship offers an opportunity to assess players over sustained periods rather than relying solely on performances in limited-overs cricket.
With both divisional titles and promotion at stake, regional teams will have considerable motivation to deliver consistent performances throughout the tournament.
November 3 Opening Promises High-Profile Start
The 69th Quaid-e-Azam Trophy will begin with significant attention on Lahore Whites and FATA, as Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi prepare for their opening-round encounter in Islamabad.
Elsewhere, defending champions Karachi Blues will begin their title defence, while Peshawar Blues, Multan, Sialkot Blues and other contenders look to establish themselves in the Gold Division.
The tournament will continue into December, with the Silver Division final scheduled for December 3–7 and the Gold Division championship match set for December 15–19.
With Pakistan’s international stars returning to domestic red-ball cricket, a new two-division structure and promotion opportunities for regional sides, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2026-27 is positioned to become a crucial examination of both established performers and the country’s next generation of cricketing talent.
