PAKISTAN DOMESTIC NEWS
For context, the Karachi sides – 21-time winners of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy – hold a stature in Pakistan’s domestic cricket comparable to Mumbai in India © PCB
Following a major overhaul of the domestic cricket structure by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Karachi have lost their place in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy – the country’s premier first-class competition. As part of the revamp, the PCB has reduced the number of participating teams from 18 to eight, resulting in the exclusion of both Karachi teams.
For context, the Karachi sides – 21-time winners of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy – hold a stature in Pakistan’s domestic cricket comparable to Mumbai in India, who have claimed the Ranji Trophy a record 42 times.
Last year two teams from Karachi – Karachi Whites and Karachi Blues – had taken part in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. This year they have been relegated to the non-first class Hanif Mohammad Trophy, where they will play with 10 other regional sides in a pool format.
The tournament will be held from August 15, with the top two teams qualifying for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, FATA, Lahore Region Blues, Hyderabad, Multan, Quetta, D.M. Jamali, AJK, and Larkana are the other 10 teams who will feature in the Hanif Mohammad Trophy alongside the Karachi sides.
Meanwhile, the six teams that have earned a direct berth for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy are Lahore Region Whites, Sialkot, Peshawar, Islamabad, Abbottabad, Bahawalpur. Along with the two teams qualifying from the Hanif Mohammad Trophy, the eight teams will compete in a single-league format comprising 29 matches, which will run from September 22 to November 7. Sialkot are the defending champions of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
“It was a surprise for me that such a big region, such a big team that has always dominated first-class cricket has been relegated. Karachi has produced a lot of top players over the years. With the top eight teams playing in the First-Class competition and Karachi not being one of them, I don’t think it’s a good decision -110 percent a Karachi team should be there,” Karman Akmal, a former keeper-batsman of Pakistan, said.
“There is a lot of talent in the region. What is the fault of all the boys if they don’t get to play First-Class cricket? If you were planning to introduce this model, you should have informed all teams in advance-perhaps for the 2026-27 season. Suddenly announcing such a decision and not trusting anyone is not the right approach.”
“Our system is not strong. There is no merit, and the quality of cricket is lacking. These are three serious concerns for Pakistan cricket. It’s not a good sign. Our cricket has been struggling, and whoever comes into the PCB tries to create a domestic model in their own way. This is not an ideal approach. Until professional people are brought in, things will remain this way-we’ve been seeing it for the last six or seven years.” He went on to add, “But we are used to it now. The quality of cricket is not improving. So yes, it is a surprise for me that there is no Karachi team.”
However, Rashid Latif, also a former keeper-batter and captain of Pakistan team, did not see anything wrong in the PCB move. “The domestic structure has been changing over the last six-seven years and the number of teams are also changing. The Karachi teams have a chance to qualify for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. I am a Karachiite myself and I can say I am comfortable with the decision.”
© Cricbuzz
