The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy is a domestic first-class cricket competition in Pakistan. With few exceptions, it has been staged annually since it was first played during the 1953–54 season. Domestic cricket in Pakistan has undergone many reorganisations, with the number of teams and matches in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy changing regularly. It has been variously contested by associations or departments, or a combination of the two. From 2019–20 to 2022–23 it was contested by six regional teams. For the 2023–24 season it was expanded to eight regional teams.
The history of cricket in Pakistan predates the creation of the country in 1947. The first international cricket match in what is now Pakistan today was held in Karachi on 22 November 1935 between Sindh and Australia. The match was seen by 5,000 Karachiites. Cricket was introduced by the British during their colonial rule of British India, which covered the area now known as Pakistan. Cricket is the most popular sport in the country. The Pakistan Cricket Board controls all domestic cricket in Pakistan and the national teams. Pakistan is an official member of the International Cricket Council and the Asian Cricket Council. Regarded as one of the best and most passionate cricketing nations, Pakistan has won the Cricket World Cup in 1992, ICC T20 World Cup in 2009, the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in 2004 and 2006, the ACC Asia Cup in 2000 and 2012, and the ICC Test Championship in 2016. Pakistan were runner ups in the 1999 Cricket World Cup and 2007 and 2022 T20 World Cups. Pakistan have also been runner ups in several Asia Cup editions.
Khurram Manzoor is a Pakistani international cricketer. He is a right-hand opening batsman who also bowls off-spin. He made his first-class cricket debut in the 2003–04 season, before representing Pakistan for the first time in the 5th One Day International (ODI) against Zimbabwe in Sheikhupura in February 2007. In total, Manzoor has played seven Tests and scored three half centuries. He performed well in two Tests for Pakistan A against West Indies A and scored 3 centuries. Subsequently, he was included in Pakistan's Test squad for the series against New Zealand.
Sohail Khan, also known as Sohail Pathan, is a Pakistani cricketer. A right-arm fast bowler, he gained instant recognition during his debut first-class season in 2007 when he broke Fazal Mahmood's record for the best bowling figures by a Pakistani in a first-class match. Shortly afterwards he made his international debut, in an ODI against Zimbabwe. Khan was part of the team for 2015 Cricket World Cup.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cricket team was a domestic cricket team in Pakistan representing the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. It competed in domestic first-class, List A and T20 cricket tournaments, namely the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan Cup and National T20 Cup. The team was operated by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cricket Association.
Balochistan cricket team was a domestic cricket team in Pakistan representing Balochistan province. It competed in domestic first-class, List A and T20 cricket competitions, namely the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan Cup and National T20 Cup. The team was operated by the Balochistan Cricket Association.
Iftikhar Ahmed is a Pakistani international cricketer. He is in the playing-eleven in the T20 and ODI formats of Pakistan National Cricket Team. In Pakistan Super League, he has previously played for Karachi Kings, Islamabad United, Quetta Gladiators and he will now represent Multan Sultans during HBL PSL Season 9. He made his international debut for the Pakistan cricket team in November 2015.
Agha Sabir is a Pakistani first-class cricketer who has been part of Pakistan domestic cricket since 2001. Agha Sabir started his first-class career for Pakistan Customs. In 2005, Agha Sabir was recruited by Pakistan International Airlines as a professional cricketer.
Syed Saad Ali is a Pakistani cricketer who plays for Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and for Sindh in the Pakistan domestic tournaments. He made his international debut for the Pakistan cricket team in March 2019.
Hasan Mohsin is a Pakistani cricketer. He made his List A debut for Sindh in the 2017 Pakistan Cup on 18 April 2017. Prior to his List A debut, he was named in Pakistan's squad for the 2016 Under-19 Cricket World Cup. He made his first-class debut for Pakistan Television in the 2017–18 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy on 3 October 2017. He made his Twenty20 debut for Multan in the 2018–19 National T20 Cup on 11 December 2018.
Waleed Ahmed is a Pakistani cricketer. He made his List A debut for Karachi Whites in the 2018–19 Quaid-e-Azam One Day Cup on 6 September 2018. He was the leading wicket-taker for Karachi Whites in the tournament, with ten dismissals in five matches.
The 2019–20 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy was a first-class domestic cricket competition that took place in Pakistan from 14 September to 31 December 2019. Habib Bank Limited were the defending champions. However, after the new domestic structure announced by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), six newly formed regional teams played in the tournament.
The 2019–20 National T20 Cup was a Twenty20 domestic cricket competition that was played in Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan from 13 to 24 October 2019. Lahore Whites were the defending champions. It was the sixteenth season of the National T20 Cup in Pakistan, and took place during a break in Pakistan's domestic first-class tournament, the 2019–20 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. The same six teams playing in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy played in the T20 Cup, with the top four teams progressing to the semi-finals.
Central Punjab was a domestic cricket team in Pakistan representing the northern and central parts of the Punjab province. It competed in domestic first-class, List A and T20 cricket competitions, namely the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan Cup and National T20 Cup. The team was operated by the Central Punjab Cricket Association.
Northern cricket team was a domestic cricket team in Pakistan representing Rawalpindi Division, Islamabad Capital Territory, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir. It competed in domestic first-class, List A and T20 cricket competitions, namely the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan Cup and National T20 Cup. The team was operated by the Northern Cricket Association.
Southern Punjab cricket team was a domestic cricket team in Pakistan representing the southern parts of the Punjab province. It competed in domestic first-class, List A and T20 cricket competitions, namely the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan Cup and National T20 Cup. The team was operated by the Southern Punjab Cricket Association.
The 2020–21 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy was a first-class domestic cricket competition that took place in Karachi, Pakistan, from 25 October 2020 to 5 January 2021. Central Punjab cricket team were the defending champions. Central Punjab started their title defence poorly, with no wins from their first five matches. Despite being bottom in the table at the half-way point of the tournament, they won four of the next five matches to finish second in the table, advancing to the final with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The 2020–21 Pakistan Cup was a List A cricket competition that took place in Karachi, Pakistan from 8 January to 31 January 2021. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were the defending champions after they beat Baluchistan. However, after the new domestic structure announced by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), six newly formed regional teams were formed.
