Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2026-27 Squads Announced
The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2026-27 squads for the 69th edition of Pakistan’s premier first-class competition. The tournament begins on 3 November, and it will bring several national players back into domestic cricket at the same time.
Eight teams will compete in the Gold tier, and 12 sides will take part in the Silver competition. The Gold tier will feature 29 first-class matches, while the Silver competition will stage 31 matches and serve as a qualifying pathway to the Gold tier for the next season. Teams will operate with revolving rosters through the tournament. Each side will have 15 travelling members, and can also select players from its reserves or the national-duty pool when they are free from national commitments.
The big names in the Gold tier
Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam will represent Lahore Whites, while Shaheen Shah Afridi will lead FATA. Mohammad Rizwan will turn out for Peshawar Blues, Saud Shakeel will lead defending champions Karachi Blues, and Abdullah Shafique will captain Sialkot Blues.
One detail in the announcement needs care. The PCB text describes Rizwan as the Peshawar Blues captain, but the published Peshawar Blues squad list does not mark him with the captain’s tag. This draft therefore describes Rizwan as part of the Peshawar Blues squad rather than stating his captaincy as settled, and the point is worth checking against the PCB’s own list before publish. Babar’s position is clearer: he is named in the Lahore Whites squad, while Aamer Jamal is listed as that side’s captain.
The eight Gold teams and their listed captains are Faisalabad under Muhammad Irfan Khan, FATA under Shaheen Shah Afridi, Islamabad under Shamyl Hussain, Karachi Blues under Saud Shakeel, Lahore Whites under Aamer Jamal, Multan under Imam-ul-Haq, Sialkot Blues under Abdullah Shafique, and Peshawar Blues, whose squad is headed by Rizwan.
Other familiar names run through the Gold squads. Faheem Ashraf and Khurram Shahzad are in the Faisalabad squad, Khushdil Shah is with FATA, Hasan Nawaz is in the Islamabad squad, Saim Ayub is with Karachi Blues, Noman Ali is in the Lahore Whites squad, Sahibzada Farhan is with Peshawar Blues, and Hasan Ali is in the Sialkot Blues squad. Shan Masood, who is recovering from injury, and Abrar Ahmed are among Karachi Blues’ reserves, along with Mir Hamza.
The Silver tier and the road to Gold
The Silver tier features 12 teams divided into two groups: Abbottabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Bahawalpur, Dera Murad Jamali, Hyderabad, Karachi Whites, Lahore Blues, Larkana, Peshawar Whites, Quetta, Rawalpindi and Sialkot Whites.
The Silver squads also carry recognisable names. Fakhar Zaman is in the Abbottabad squad, Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz are with Rawalpindi, with Nawaz listed as Rawalpindi captain, and Shahnawaz Dahani is in the Larkana squad. For these players, the Silver competition is not a sideshow. It is the qualifying route to the Gold tier next season, so performances here carry a direct reward.
The structure gives the tournament a clear shape. The Gold tier holds the established first-class sides and the defending champions, Karachi Blues. The Silver tier holds 12 sides fighting for promotion. Between them, 60 matches will decide which players and teams carry form into the next domestic season, and which national players return to international duty with runs and wickets behind them.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2026-27 start?
On 3 November 2026. It is the 69th edition of Pakistan’s premier first-class competition.
How many teams and matches are involved?
Eight teams in the Gold tier will play 29 matches, and 12 teams in the Silver tier will play 31 matches.
Which national players are taking part?
Babar Azam with Lahore Whites, Shaheen Shah Afridi leading FATA, Mohammad Rizwan with Peshawar Blues, Saud Shakeel leading defending champions Karachi Blues, and Abdullah Shafique leading Sialkot Blues, among others.
Who captains Lahore Whites?
Aamer Jamal is listed as Lahore Whites captain, with Babar Azam named in the squad.
What is at stake in the Silver tier?
The Silver competition serves as a qualifying pathway to the Gold tier for the next season.
