The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the squads and schedule for the 69th edition of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. The tournament will begin on November 3, 2026, featuring 20 regional teams across two divisions. A total of 60 matches will be played during the domestic first-class competition.
The tournament will feature several prominent Pakistani international cricketers. Test captain Babar Azam will represent Lahore Whites, while ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi will lead FATA. Their teams will face each other in the opening round at Islamabad’s Diamond Cricket Ground.
The competition will bring experienced international players together with emerging domestic talent. It will also provide young cricketers an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities in first-class cricket. Players will compete for regional honours and opportunities to strengthen their positions in Pakistan’s cricket setup.
Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2026-27: Team Squads
Lahore Whites will be captained by Aamer Jamal, with Babar Azam among the prominent players. The squad also includes Noman Ali, Tayyab Tahir, Muhammad Akhlaq and Ahmed Daniyal.
Shaheen Shah Afridi will lead FATA, which features Khushdil Shah, Sameen Gul, Afaq Afridi and Hayatullah. The team will face Lahore Whites in one of the tournament’s most anticipated opening fixtures.
Karachi Blues, the defending champions, will compete under Saud Shakeel’s leadership. Their squad includes Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Danish Aziz and Omair Bin Yousuf.
Peshawar Blues will be captained by wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Rizwan. Other notable players include Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Haris, Iftikhar Ahmed and Sajid Khan.
Imam-ul-Haq will lead Multan, while Muhammad Irfan Khan Niazi will captain Faisalabad. Islamabad will compete under Shamyl Hussain’s leadership.
Sialkot Blues will be captained by Abdullah Shafique. Their squad also features Mohammad Huraira, Hassan Ali, Ammad Butt and Mohammad Ali.
Tournament Format and Schedule
The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy will feature two divisions, Gold and Silver. The Gold Division will include eight teams and 29 matches. Meanwhile, the Silver Division will feature 12 teams and 31 matches.
Gold Division league matches will continue until December 12. The top two teams will then compete in a five-day final from December 15 to 19.
Silver Division group-stage matches will conclude on November 30. The two group winners will qualify for the final, scheduled from December 3 to 7. The Silver champion will earn promotion to the Gold Division next season.
Silver Division Groups Announced
The PCB has divided the 12 Silver Division teams into two groups.
Group A:
- Lahore Blues
- Rawalpindi
- Larkana
- Quetta
- Bahawalpur
- Peshawar Whites
Group B:
- Karachi Whites
- Azad Jammu and Kashmir
- Hyderabad
- Dera Murad Jamali
- Abbottabad
- Sialkot Whites
Group A matches will take place at three Karachi venues. These include KCCA Stadium, SBP Sports Complex and UBL Sports Complex.
Group B fixtures will be played at Multan Cricket Stadium, Sports Complex Rahim Yar Khan and Dring Stadium in Bahawalpur.
The promotion opportunity makes the Silver Division particularly important for regional teams. Its champion will secure a place in the Gold Division for the following domestic season.
Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi Set for Opening Clash
One of the biggest attractions will be the opening-round match between Lahore Whites and FATA. The fixture will bring Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi into direct competition.
Aamer Jamal will captain Lahore Whites, while Shaheen will lead FATA. Both teams feature several experienced players and promising domestic performers.
Defending champions Karachi Blues will also aim to retain their title. Saud Shakeel will lead the side alongside international players Saim Ayub and Usman Khan.
Other prominent names include Muhammad Rizwan, Sahibzada Farhan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique.
The PCB has clarified that squad lists may change during the competition. Reserve players and cricketers returning from national duties will remain available for selection. Therefore, the announced squads do not represent confirmed playing XIs.
Live Streaming Details
Cricket fans will have access to live coverage throughout the tournament. All four Gold Division matches in each round will be streamed on Tamasha and tapmad.
Additionally, four of the six Silver Division matches in each round will be available through live streaming. This arrangement will allow fans across Pakistan to follow their favourite regional teams.
Platform for Emerging Cricket Talent
The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy remains an important competition for Pakistan’s domestic cricket structure. Its 60 first-class matches will test players’ consistency, patience and technical skills.
The 2026-27 edition will also introduce an expanded regional representation. Peshawar and Sialkot will each field two teams for the first time in the country’s first-class competition.
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With international stars and emerging players competing together, the tournament promises an important domestic cricket season. The opening fixture in Islamabad will bring immediate attention to the contest between Lahore Whites and FATA.
