Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed today that the 2025-26 domestic cricket season will commence with the Hanif Mohammad Trophy (HMT) on August 29. The tournament will feature 12 regional teams competing for two spots in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. The competition is set to conclude on September 25.

Initially slated to start on August 15, the tournament’s kickoff was postponed to ensure the availability of Pakistan Shaheens’ players for their respective regional teams.

Group A matches will take place in Bahawalpur, Multan, and Rahim Yar Khan. The group consists of teams from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Faisalabad, Hyderabad, Karachi Whites, Lahore Blues, and Quetta.

Group B, featuring teams from Dera Murad Jamali, FATA, Karachi Blues, Larkana, Multan, and Rawalpindi, will play their matches in Karachi.

The tournament will unfold over five rounds in 28 days, with each round featuring six matches. Teams will play five matches each, and the group leaders will advance to the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, scheduled to follow the HMT.

The regional teams will form their squads by selecting top performers from past seasons and the recent Regional Inter-District three-day tournament, held in June and July across the country.

The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy will feature teams from Sialkot, Islamabad, Lahore Whites, Abbottabad, Peshawar, Bahawalpur, and the two qualifying teams from the HMT.

The first round of the HMT will see Faisalabad face Lahore Blues, Hyderabad take on Karachi Whites, and Quetta compete against Azad Jammu and Kashmir in Group A. In Group B, Rawalpindi will play FATA, Karachi Blues will meet Multan, and Dera Murad Jamali will go up against Larkana.