(Source X)
To enhance the readiness of domestic players for international cricket and strengthen the local circuit, the Pakistan Cricket Board has unveiled three new tournaments for the upcoming season.
These new “Champions” tournaments will feature five teams and span across various formats, aiming to bridge the gap between domestic and international cricket. The competitions will run from September 2024 to August 2025.
The five teams—Dolphins, Lions, Panthers, Stallions, and Wolves—will first compete in the Champions One-Day Cup, scheduled from September 1 to 29. This will be followed by the Champions T20 Cup, taking place from December 21 to January 2. The season will conclude with the Champions Pentangular (first-class) competition, running from May 28 to August 5.
The introduction of these tournaments will expand Pakistan’s domestic cricket landscape. In addition to these new events, the PCB will continue to host three first-class tournaments, including the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and President’s Trophy; two List-A tournaments, with the President’s Cup being the other; and three T20 competitions, including the National T20 Cup and PSL.
Approximately 150 top players are expected to participate in the Champions Tournament. The PCB has yet to detail the selection process but will appoint mentors for each team in addition to the regular coaching staff. Each team will also have access to dedicated high-performance centers located in Faisalabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Sialkot.
Introduction of the three Champions tournaments is a bold step: Mohsin Naqvi
During the announcement of the Champions tournaments, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi voiced his dissatisfaction with Pakistan’s current standing in international cricket.
Naqvi emphasized that to restore Pakistan’s prominence on the global stage, there is a pressing need to “innovate, strategically enhance, and reinforce” the domestic cricket structure. He described the introduction of the Champions tournaments as a significant and ambitious step towards achieving these goals.
“Our current standings – sixth in Tests, fourth in ODIs and seventh in T20Is – do not reflect the true potential and legacy of Pakistan cricket. To restore our rightful place at the top of world cricket, we must innovate and strategically enhance, expand and strengthen our domestic structure. The introduction of the three Champions tournaments is a bold step in this direction,” said Naqvi.
“The Champions tournaments will bring together our most talented and consistent performers from domestic cricket with our centrally-contracted players, creating an environment that mirrors the intensity of international cricket,” he added.
