Latest news with #President'sTrophyGrade-II
Business Recorder
16-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Domestic season 2025-26: PCB introduces three-tier departmental cricket structure
LAHORE: In a historic first, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has introduced a three-tier Departmental Cricket structure in the Domestic cricket season 2025-26, which is set to begin in August and will conclude in May 2026. Over 40 departments from the length and breadth of the country have been divided into three tiers – Grade-I, II and III with one First-class, one List-A, one three-day and one two-day matches competition slated to take place across the season. Earlier, there were only two tiers but to make the departmental cricket more competitive and relegation promotion oriented, Grade-III will be introduced in this season, where the teams will compete in a two-day matches competition in March and April 2026. Teams for the Grade-III tournament have been determined based on points table standings in the 2024-25 President's Trophy Grade-II tournament. The top two teams in Grade-III will qualify for the next season's Grade-II, while the bottom two teams of the Grade-II will be relegated to the third tier. A total of 12 teams have qualified for the President's Trophy Grade-II based on their points in the previous iteration of the tournament, while they will be joined by the two relegated teams from the Grade-I competition to form the 14-team tournament. The G-II teams include Ahmed Glass, Ghani Institute, JDW Sugar Mills, Kingsmen, MIT Solutions, PAF, PHA Rawalpindi, Port Qasim, Railways, Sardar Group, Vital Tea, Wing 999 Sports, HEC (relegated) and Eshaal Associates (relegated). The 14-team President's Trophy Grade-II comprising of three-day matches is slated to take place from March to May 2026, where winner will have the opportunity to go one step ahead and qualify for the first-class and List-A departmental tournament for the next season. In the next season the PCB intends to add a 50-over competition for Grade-II teams as well. The first departmental tournament in the upcoming domestic season is the 50-over President's Cup which is set to take place right after the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy in November and December. The tournament will consist of 31 List-A matches. The participating teams are Ghani Glass, Khan Research Laboratories, Oil and Gas Development Company Limited, Pakistan Television, Sahir Associates, State Bank of Pakistan, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited, and Water and Power Development Authority. Right after the one-day tournament, the same eight departments will compete in the 29-match first-class competition – President's Trophy, which will conclude in January 2026. The bottom two teams will be relegated paving the way for the winners of the Grade-II tournament hence creating a highly competitive top to bottom departmental cricket structure. Apart from the men's domestic game, some of the departments are also expected to assemble their women's teams in the coming months in order to strengthen the women's domestic structure as well. The details will be shared in due course. Director Domestic Cricket Operations, Abdullah Khurram Niazi said, 'The departmental cricket has become the bedrock of our domestic cricket season for the third year straight. The PCB is proud and highly appreciates the efforts of more than 40 departments in helping Pakistan cricket grow by investing in talent and taking part in the domestic cricket season. We have incentivised the departmental cricket by dividing it into three tiers and creating a highly competitive structure for all the teams, which will surely lead to enhancing the quality of our domestic cricket.' Niazi said, 'I eagerly look forward to seeing more than 400 players deservingly taking part in our domestic season representing various departments as we strive for the betterment and growth of cricket on the domestic front.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
16-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
PCB launches new dept structure
The new structure is divided into three tiers – Grades I, II and III. Photo: PCB In a historic first, the Pakistan Cricket Board has introduced a three-tiered Departmental cricket structure in the Domestic cricket season 2025-26, which is set to begin in August and will conclude in May 2026. Over 40 departments from the length and breadth of the country have been divided into three tiers – Grade-I, II and III with one First-class, one List-A, one three-day and one two-day matches competition slated to take place across the season. Earlier, there were only two tiers but to make the departmental cricket more competitive and relegation promotion oriented, Grade-III will be introduced in this season, where the teams will compete in a two-day matches competition in March and April 2026. Teams for the Grade-III tournament have been determined based on points table standings in the 2024-25 President's Trophy Grade-II tournament. The top two teams in Grade-III will qualify for the next season's G-II, while the bottom two teams of the G-II will be relegated to the third tier. A total of 12 teams have qualified for the President's Trophy Grade-II based on their points in the previous iteration of the tournament, while they will be joined by the two relegated teams from the Grade-I competition to form the 14-team tournament. The G-II teams include Ahmed Glass, Ghani Institute, JDW Sugar Mills, Kingsmen, MIT Solutions, PAF, PHA Rawalpindi, Port Qasim, Railways, Sardar Group, Vital Tea, Wing 999 Sports, HEC (relegated) and Eshaal Associates (relegated). The 14-team President's Trophy Grade-II comprising of three-day matches is slated to take place from March to May 2026, where winner will have the opportunity to go one step ahead and qualify for the first-class and List-A departmental tournament for the next season. In the next season the PCB intends to add a 50-over competition for Grade-II teams as well. The first departmental tournament in the upcoming domestic season is the 50-over President's Cup which is set to take place right after the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy in November and December. The tournament will consist of 31 List-A matches. The participating teams are Ghani Glass, Khan Research Laboratories, Oil and Gas Development Company Limited, Pakistan Television, Sahir Associates, State Bank of Pakistan, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited, and Water and Power Development Authority. Right after the one-day tournament, the same eight departments will compete in the 29-match first-class competition – President's Trophy, which will conclude in January 2026. The bottom two teams will be relegated paving the way for the winners of the Grade-II tournament hence creating a highly competitive top to bottom departmental cricket structure. Apart from the men's domestic game, some of the departments are also expected to assemble their women's teams in the coming months in order to strengthen the women's domestic structure as well. The details will be shared in due course. Director Domestic Cricket Operations, Abdullah Khurram Niazi: "The departmental cricket has become the bedrock of our domestic cricket season for the third year straight. The PCB is proud and highly appreciates the efforts of more than 40 departments in helping Pakistan cricket grow by investing in talent and taking part in the domestic cricket season. "We have incentivised the departmental cricket by dividing it into three tiers and creating a highly competitive structure for all the teams, which will surely lead to enhancing the quality of our domestic cricket. "I eagerly look forward to seeing more than 400 players deservingly taking part in our domestic season representing various departments as we strive for the betterment and growth of cricket on the domestic front."
Business Recorder
15-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
PCB launches three-tier departmental structure for 2025-26 season
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday introduced a three-tiered Departmental Cricket structure in the Domestic cricket season 2025-26, which is set to begin in August and will conclude in May 2026. Over 40 departments from across the country have been divided into three tiers – Grade I, II, and III, with one First-class, one List-A, one three-day, and one two-day matches competition slated to take place throughout the season. Earlier, there were only two tiers; however, to make departmental cricket more competitive and relegation-promotion oriented, Grade-III will be introduced this season. The teams will compete in a two-day match competition in March and April 2026. Teams for the Grade-III tournament have been determined based on points table standings in the 2024-25 President's Trophy Grade-II tournament. The top two teams in Grade-III will qualify for the next season's Grade-II, while the bottom two teams of the Grade-II will be relegated to the third tier. PCB unfolds domestic cricket calendar for 2025-26 season A total of 12 teams have qualified for the President's Trophy Grade-II based on their points in the previous iteration of the tournament, while they will be joined by the two relegated teams from the Grade-I competition to form the 14-team tournament. The G-II teams include Ahmed Glass, Ghani Institute, JDW Sugar Mills, Kingsmen, MIT Solutions, PAF, PHA Rawalpindi, Port Qasim, Railways, Sardar Group, Vital Tea, Wing 999 Sports, HEC (relegated) and Eshaal Associates (relegated). The 14-team President's Trophy Grade-II, comprising three-day matches, is slated to take place from March to May 2026, where the winner will have the opportunity to go one step further and qualify for the first-class and List-A departmental tournament for the next season. In the next season, the PCB intends to add a 50-over competition for Grade-II teams as well. The first departmental tournament in the upcoming domestic season is the 50-over President's Cup, which is set to take place right after the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy in November and December. The tournament will consist of 31 List-A matches. PCB chief Naqvi approves plan for promoting quality domestic cricket The participating teams are Ghani Glass, Khan Research Laboratories, Oil and Gas Development Company Limited, Pakistan Television, Sahir Associates, State Bank of Pakistan, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited, and Water and Power Development Authority. Right after the one-day tournament, the same eight departments will compete in the 29-match first-class competition – the President's Trophy, which will conclude in January 2026. The bottom team will be relegated, paving the way for the winners of the Grade-II tournament, hence creating a highly competitive top-to-bottom departmental cricket structure. Apart from the men's domestic game, some of the departments are also expected to assemble their women's teams in the coming months in order to strengthen the women's domestic structure as well. The details will be shared in due course. Director, Domestic Cricket Operations, Abdullah Khurram Niazi: 'The departmental cricket has become the bedrock of our domestic cricket season for the third year straight. The PCB is proud and highly appreciates the efforts of more than 40 departments in helping Pakistan cricket grow by investing in talent and taking part in the domestic cricket season. 'We have incentivised the departmental cricket by dividing it into three tiers and creating a highly competitive structure for all the teams, which will surely lead to enhancing the quality of our domestic cricket. 'I eagerly look forward to seeing more than 400 players deservingly taking part in our domestic season representing various departments as we strive for the betterment and growth of cricket on the domestic front.'
Business Recorder
29-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
President's Trophy Grade-II: MIT Solutions, Sahir Associates to contest
LAHORE: MIT Solutions and Sahir Associates will go head to head in the final of the President's Trophy Grade-II at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium from 29th May to 1st June as the 2024-25 domestic season comes to an end. The winner of the tournament will also qualify for the departmental first-class tournament - President's Trophy Grade-I 2025-26. The two teams have played eight three-day matches each and will get a chance to bag Rs five million if they win the final; a non-first-class four-day affair, while the runners up will bag Rs 2.5 million. Out of a total prize pot of Rs 7.75 million, there will also be awards for individual performances. In the Group stage, Sahir Associates topped the Group D by winning four matches, while two of their games were drawn. Their quarter final and semi final fixtures against Ghani institute and JDW Sugar Mills respectively were drawn but they advanced to the next stage based on first innings lead both in the games. Sahir Associates' wicketkeeper-batter Asim Ali Nasir is second on the leading run-scorer list with 735 runs in 12 innings just six behind PAF's Atteq-ur-Rehman who sits atop. Asim has affected 23 dismissals behind the stumps. On the bowling front Mohammad Bilawal and Shahid Ali; both left arm pacers, have aided Sahir Associates' campaign with 31 and 22 scalps, respectively. MIT Solutions, who finished second in Group C with three wins, one loss and two draws out of six games, too took first innings lead in their drawn quarter final and semi final matches against Kingsmen and Wing 999, respectively. The batting duo of Muhammad Afzal (491 runs) and Husnain Nadeem (483 runs) has been prolific for MIT solutions. Among the bowlers, MIT's Shahab Khan has bagged 23 wickets, while Raza Ullah has snapped 21 scalps. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Business Recorder
President's Trophy Grade-II knockout stage begins today
LAHORE: The quarter-finals of the President's Trophy Grade-II will be played at four venues of the country starting from today. The three-day tournament will see Kingsmen taking on Mit Solutions at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, while JDW Sugar Mills will face Railways at the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi. At the Saeed Sports City in Lahore, PAF will feature against Wing 999 Sports, whereas in the fourth quarter-final Sahir Associates will play Ghani Institute at the Rana Naveed Cricket Academy in Sheikhupura. The winners of the quarter-finals will advance to the semi-finals, scheduled from 24 to 26 May at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium and Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium. The final, a four-day affair, will be played from May 28 to 31. The venue of the final will be confirmed in due course. The winner of the tournament will be awarded Rs five million, while the runner-up team will collect Rs 2.5 million out of a total prize pot of Rs 7.75 million. Earlier, the tournament which began on 15th April saw 27 departmental teams divided into four groups. In Group A, where each team played five games, Kingsmen and Wing 999 Sports finished first and second with five and three wins, respectively. In Group B, JDW Sugar Mills topped the table with 38 points, while Ghani Institute finished the group stage with 32 points from six matches. Pakistan Air Force topped Group C with four wins, while Mit Solutions secured the second spot in the group with three wins. In Group D, Sahir Associates and Railways qualified for the quarter-finals by finishing first and second with four and three wins, respectively. Apart from Group A, all teams played six group-stage games each. PAF's Ateeq Ur Rehman and Umair Masood lead the batting charts with 674 and 664 runs, respectively. Ateeq has scored four centuries and two half-centuries from 10 innings, while Umair has registered three centuries and four half-centuries in 11 innings. On the bowling front, Wing 999 Sports' left-arm spinner Muhammad Tariq Khan has bagged 41 wickets which included three five-wicket hauls. Shaikh Mohammad Raza with his right-arm off-spin bowing has grabbed 32 wickets, including two five-wicket hauls. Railways' spinners Asad Ullah and Abdullah Zubair have taken 28 wickets each. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
