The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday confirmed the introduction of three new Champions tournaments for the 2024-25 domestic whose goal is to close the gap between domestic and international cricket.
Three new events — The Champions One-Day Cup, Champions T20 Cup and Champions First-Class Cup — will be played alongside the National T20 Cup, Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (regional first-class tournament), President’s Trophy President’s Cup and HBL Pakistan Super League 2025 in the 2024-25 domestic cricket season.
A total of 261 matches will be organised by the PCB across eight senior tournaments which will include 131 first-class matches in three events, 40 50-over matches in two matches and 97 T20 matches in three events.
The tournament will include five teams — Dolphins, Lions, Panthers, Stallions and Wolves — and they will compete in each Champions Cup event
“Around 150 of the country’s highest-performing domestic players from the past three years and centrally contracted players will be available for selection (more details to be shared in due course),” the PCB said in a press release.
“Each side will have a former Pakistan superstar as a mentor and potentially as an owner (mentor and owner names/details to be announced in due course)
“Player support personnel of each side are expected to include: Head Coach (at least Level 3, minimum five years with a first-class side), batting/bowling/fielding coaches (minimum Level 3, three-year experience), Strength and Conditioning Coach, Physiotherapist, Analyst, Operations Manager, and Media/Digital Media Manager
“Each side will have a Corporate Sponsor and Media Partner. Other revenue streams will include broadcast and live-streaming rights, event title sponsorship, ground branding rights and ticket sales/merchandise
“The Champions One-Day Cup will serve as the season opener of the PCB Men’s Domestic Cricket Season 2024-25 when the 21-match tournament is played from 1-29 September. Curtains will fall on the PCB Men’s Domestic Cricket Season 2024-25 with the Champions First-Class Cup, which will be held from 28 May to 5 August.”
Tentative schedule of eight men’s senior tournaments in 2024-25 domestic season
Champions One-Day Cup: 1-29 September (five teams, 21 matches) (new event)
President’s Cup (50-over): 3-15 October (nine teams, 19 matches) (seven teams, 24 matches in 2023-24)
Quaid-e-Azam Trophy: 20 October-18 December (18 teams, 73 matches) (eight teams, 29 matches in 2023-24)
Champions T20 Cup: 21 December -2 January (five teams, 21 matches) (new event)
President’s Trophy (first-class): 6 January-7 March (nine teams, 37 matches) (seven teams, 22 matches in 2023-24)
National T20 Cup: 13-21 March (18 teams, 35 matches) (18 teams, 63 matches in 2023-24)
Pakistan Super League 2025: 10 April-25 May (six teams, 34 matches) (six teams, 34 matches in 2023-24)
Champions First-Class Cup: 28 May-5 August (five teams, 21 matches) (new event)