LAHORE: Eighteen regional teams, divided into three groups, will be vying in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy first-class tournament starting at different grounds across the country on Oct 26, including three new venues.

According to the announcement made by the PCB on Wednesday, the opening match of the country’s premier domestic event will be played between defending champions Karachi Whites and Peshawar at Ashfaq ground, Charsadda — one of the latest venues — which will also host its maiden first-class match.

Each team will get an opportunity to play a minimum of five matches in the group stage. Top teams from each of the three six-team groups will feature in a triangular stage. The top two sides from the triangular stage will play in a five-day final from Dec 14 to 18. The venue of the final will be decided later.

Commenting on the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said: “This tournament holds immense importance in the structure of Pakistan’s domestic cricket and its continuation ensures the cultivation of talent for our national team.”

Lahore and Karachi are fielding two teams each in the event while remaining 16 regions are allowed to enter only one team each.

A prize money of Rs12.6 million will be up for grabs as the winners will bag Rs7.5 million while the runners-up will collect PKR four million.

Besides Ashfaq Cricket Ground in Charsadda, two other new first-class venues include Rana Naveed Cricket Academy (Sheikhupura) and Saeed Sports City (Lahore). All these new venues will stage five matches each in the group stage.

Group ‘A’: Abbottabad, Faisalabad, Hyderabad, Islamabad, Lahore Whites, Larkana

Group ‘B’: Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Bahawalpur Region, Karachi Whites, Multan, Peshawar, Rawalpindi

Group ‘C’: Dera Murad Jamali, Fata, Karachi Blues, Lahore Blues, Quetta, Sialkot.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2024