Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2026-27: Dates, Teams and How to Follow in Pakistan

The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2026-27 starts on 1 November in two divisions: Gold ends on 17 December and Silver on 5 December. Both are first-class competitions, which means four-day matches, and the Gold division now has 8 teams while Silver has 12.

This is the tournament that picks Pakistan's Test players. If you want to follow it, you need the dates, the format and a plan for finding scores, because the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not announced a broadcaster for it.

The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2026-27 runs from 1 November

The PCB's 2026-27 calendar starts both divisions of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy on 1 November 2026. Gold finishes on 17 December and Silver on 5 December. Both carry first-class status, so results count in a player's long-form record.

The season is long. The domestic year runs from 11 August 2026 to 15 June 2027, according to the calendar reports, and this trophy is its main first-class block before the winter break.

Gold has 8 teams and Silver has 12

The top eight teams from the last edition play in the Gold division. The other regions play in Silver, split into two groups of six. Each Gold team plays seven matches. Silver group winners meet in the final.

Gold works as a league. All eight sides play each other once, and the top two then meet in the final. Silver is simpler for fans: two groups, then one match for the title.

Sialkot and Peshawar can now field two teams each. That joins them to Karachi and Lahore, which already did. The PCB says it added one new regional side each from Sialkot and Peshawar. More teams means more places for young players to get a first-class game.

Gold matches are reported for four cities

The calendar lists Islamabad, Peshawar, Abbottabad and Rawalpindi as the venues for Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Gold. The Silver venues have not been named in the reports we read. Fixture lists with grounds are published by the PCB closer to the start.

That matters if you want to watch in person. Domestic matches in Pakistan usually do not need a ticket, and entry is often free, but gate rules vary by ground. We did not find a published rule for this season, so ask the ground before you travel.

Pindi is the venue to know. It hosts the first Test against Sri Lanka from 9 November, so the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Test series and the first week of the Trophy overlap in the same city.

Other domestic dates before and after

The President's Trophy, a four-day competition, runs from 12 September to 28 October, according to the calendar. After the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy come the National T20 Cup Silver from 5 to 19 February 2027 and the Gold from 23 February to 6 March 2027, both in Lahore.

The October and November cricket schedule lists the same Trophy dates beside the international fixtures. And the PSL 12 window comes after the T20 Cup, which makes February and March the busiest months for T20 fans.

How to follow the matches when no broadcaster is named

The PCB has not announced television coverage for the Trophy in anything we read. Fans usually follow first-class matches through the board's own pages and social channels. You can plan around that now, and fix it once the fixture list is out.

1. Bookmark the PCB website and its domestic fixtures page, then check it in the last week of October.
2. Follow your regional team's page. Regional associations often post scores and ground details.
3. Note the match start. First-class days normally begin in the morning, but the PCB sets the time.
4. Ask the ground or the regional association about entry, because rules differ.
5. Do not pay any website for a stream before the board says there is one.

The fourth step is advice, not a PCB rule. Domestic cricket is the part of the game most often changed at short notice, so a venue can move after fixtures are printed.

Why the Trophy matters for the national side

Test selectors look at first-class form. A strong Gold season is the clearest road into a squad, especially with Tests against Ireland and New Zealand in early 2027, according to reports of the home season.

For a fan, that is a reason to look past the big names. A young opener scoring heavily in Abbottabad in November may be in a Test squad by February. We say that as a pattern in selection, not as a promise about any player.

Common questions about the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2026-27

When does the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy start?

Both divisions start on 1 November 2026.

When does it end?

Gold ends on 17 December 2026 and Silver on 5 December 2026.

How many teams play in each division?

Gold has 8 teams. Silver has 12, in two groups of six.

Is it a first-class tournament?

Yes. Both divisions have first-class status.

Will the matches be on television?

The PCB has not announced a broadcaster. Check the board's website when fixtures are published.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked on 8 October 2026. The division dates, team numbers, format and the venues for Gold come from reports of the PCB's 2026-27 domestic calendar, published in July 2026. The PCB's website showed a security check when we tried it on 8 October, so we could not read the calendar on the board's own pages. The same Trophy dates also appear in the PCB fixture pages read by our desk on 30 September. The venues for Silver, the match schedule, ground rules for fans and any broadcast plan are not published. Confirm every date on pcb.com.pk before you plan travel.