Karachi lose top-tier status in domestic structure revamp

Following a major overhaul of the domestic cricket structure by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Karachi have lost their place in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy - the country's premier first-class competition. As part of the revamp, the PCB has reduced the number of participating teams from 18 to eight, resulting in the exclusion of both Karachi teams.

For context, the Karachi sides - 21-time winners of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy - hold a stature in Pakistan's domestic cricket comparable to Mumbai in India, who have claimed the Ranji Trophy a record 42 times.

Last year two teams from Karachi - Karachi Whites and Karachi Blues - had taken part in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. This year they have been relegated to the non-first class Hanif Mohammad Trophy, where they will play with 10 other regional sides in a pool format.

The tournament will be held from August 15, with the top two teams qualifying for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, FATA, Lahore Region Blues, Hyderabad, Multan, Quetta, D.M. Jamali, AJK, and Larkana are the other 10 teams who will feature in the Hanif Mohammad Trophy alongside the Karachi sides.

Meanwhile, the six teams that have earned a direct berth for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy are Lahore Region Whites, Sialkot, Peshawar, Islamabad, Abbottabad, Bahawalpur. Along with the two teams qualifying from the Hanif Mohammad Trophy, the eight teams will compete in a single-league format comprising 29 matches, which will run from September 22 to November 7.

More to follow...