PCB Announces President’s Trophy Schedule Starting September 12
The Pakistan Cricket Board on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, confirmed the dates for its upcoming departmental cricket season, announcing that the President’s Trophy Grade-I and Grade-II competitions will begin on September 12. The decision sets the stage for a new phase of domestic red-ball cricket in Pakistan, with major departmental sides expected to return to structured first-class action.
According to the announcement, the President’s Trophy Grade-I will be played from September 12 to October 21. Matches in the Grade-I competition are scheduled to be held across four cities: Islamabad, Abbottabad, Peshawar and Rawalpindi, giving the tournament a northern and central regional spread during its first-class window.
The PCB said the full match schedule will be issued later, meaning teams, players and fans will have to wait for the detailed fixtures, venue allocations and match timings. However, the confirmation of the tournament window gives departments and coaching staff a clear timeline for squad preparation, player conditioning and pre-season planning.
Officials said the President’s Trophy Grade-II will also run during the same period as the Grade-I tournament. Holding both competitions side by side is expected to keep a larger pool of departmental cricketers active and provide opportunities for players seeking promotion, visibility and a stronger role in Pakistan’s domestic pathway.
The board has also adjusted the timing of the President’s Cup, the domestic List A tournament. Instead of being held alongside the red-ball competitions, the one-day event has been moved to December and will now take place after the conclusion of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Silver and Gold competitions.
The President’s Trophy remains an important part of Pakistan’s domestic cricket structure because it gives departmental teams a competitive platform beyond regional cricket. Departmental cricket has historically produced national-level players by offering them employment security, professional training environments and consistent exposure to longer-format matches.
The scheduling decision also matters for selectors, who monitor domestic tournaments to assess form, fitness and temperament in match conditions. Performances in multi-day cricket often become part of the broader national conversation, especially when Pakistan are preparing for Test assignments or looking to build depth in batting, pace bowling and spin options.
For players, the tournament offers more than just match practice. A strong President’s Trophy campaign can improve selection prospects, strengthen departmental contracts and give emerging cricketers a chance to compete against experienced professionals who have already played at higher domestic or international levels.
The impact of the announcement will be felt across Pakistan’s domestic cricket ecosystem, from departments and coaches to grounds staff and local cricket followers in the host cities. With matches planned in Islamabad, Abbottabad, Peshawar and Rawalpindi, the event is also likely to support regional cricket activity and bring competitive fixtures closer to fans outside the country’s biggest cricket centres.
The next step will be the release of the full tournament schedule by the PCB. Once fixtures are announced, departments will finalise travel plans, squad rotations and match preparations as Pakistan’s domestic season moves toward a busy red-ball period beginning in mid-September.