ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s premier domestic first-class cricket tournament, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, will begin its 69th edition on November 3, with an exciting opening-round clash between teams featuring Test captain Babar Azam and ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday announced the schedules and squads for the Gold and Silver competitions, which will feature 20 regional teams competing simultaneously across several cities, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Abbottabad.
One of the most anticipated fixtures of the opening round will see Babar represent Lahore Whites against Shaheen-led FATA at the Diamond Cricket Ground in Islamabad.
The tournament will also feature several other prominent Pakistan internationals, including Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Nawaz, adding considerable experience and star power to the domestic competition.
Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi Set for Opening-Round Clash
Lahore Whites have assembled a strong squad featuring Babar Azam, all-rounder Aamer Jamal, Tayyab Tahir and Noman Ali.
Meanwhile, FATA will enter the competition under Shaheen Shah Afridi’s leadership, with Khushdil Shah and Mohammad Wasim Khan also included in the squad.
The defending champions, Karachi Blues, will be led by Saud Shakeel, while Mohammad Rizwan will captain Peshawar Blues. Imam-ul-Haq has been named captain of Multan, Abdullah Shafique will lead Sialkot Blues, and Mohammad Nawaz will captain Rawalpindi in the Silver competition.
Karachi Blues have also included Saim Ayub and Omair Bin Yousuf in their squad. Shan Masood, Abrar Ahmed and Mir Hamza have been placed in the reserve and national-duty player pool.
Peshawar Blues will feature several familiar international names, including wicketkeeper-batter Rizwan, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Haris and Iftikhar Ahmed.
Eight Teams to Compete in Gold Competition
The Gold competition will feature eight regional teams: Karachi Blues, Faisalabad, FATA, Lahore Whites, Islamabad, Peshawar Blues, Multan and Sialkot Blues.
The matches will run from November 3 to December 12, followed by a five-day final scheduled for December 15-19.
The winner of the Gold competition will be crowned champion of the 69th edition of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
Twelve Teams Divided into Two Groups in Silver Competition
The Silver competition will feature 12 teams divided into two groups of six.
Group A comprises Lahore Blues, Rawalpindi, Larkana, Quetta, Bahawalpur and Peshawar Whites.
Group B includes Karachi Whites, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Hyderabad, Dera Murad Jamali, Abbottabad and Sialkot Whites.
Group A matches will be played at Karachi’s KCCA Stadium, State Bank Stadium and UBL Sports Complex.
Meanwhile, Group B fixtures will take place at Multan Cricket Stadium, Rahim Yar Khan Sports Complex and Bahawalpur’s Dring Stadium.
The Silver competition will run from November 3 to 30, while its final between the two group winners is scheduled for December 3-7.
The winning team will earn promotion to the Gold competition for the next season.
Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman Among Silver Competition Stars
The Silver competition will also feature several established Pakistan internationals.
Abbottabad’s squad includes Fakhar Zaman and Kamran Ghulam, while Rawalpindi will have Shadab Khan, Haider Ali, Mohammad Nawaz and Jahandad Khan.
60 First-Class Matches Across Both Competitions
According to the PCB, a total of 60 first-class matches will be played across the Gold and Silver competitions.
The Gold competition will comprise 29 matches, while the Silver competition will feature 31. All fixtures in both tournaments will carry first-class status.
The 69th edition will also mark a significant development in domestic cricket, with Peshawar and Sialkot fielding two teams each in first-class competitions for the first time.
The PCB has also allowed teams to make changes to their squads during the tournament. Each team will travel with 15 players, while additional replacements may be drawn from reserve pools and players unavailable due to national commitments.
With several international stars returning to the domestic circuit, the tournament is expected to provide competitive cricket while offering emerging players an opportunity to showcase their talent and strengthen their claims for national selection.
