PCB Announces Champions Events for the 2024-25 Domestic Season – Pakistan Super League

August 5, 2024

PCB Announces Champions Events for the 2024-25 Domestic Season – Pakistan Super League

To close the gap between domestic and international cricket, offer a more challenging and competitive environment, and enhance earning opportunities for emerging talent, the Pakistan Cricket Board has introduced three Champions tournaments for the PCB Men’s Domestic Cricket Season 2024-25.

The Champions One-Day Cup, Champions T20 Cup, and Champions First-Class Cup will be added to the lineup alongside the National T20 Cup, Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (regional first-class tournament), President’s Trophy (departmental first-class tournament), and President’s Cup (departmental 50-over event). 50-over event), and HBL Pakistan Super League 2025 in the 2024-25 domestic cricket season, which is scheduled from September 1, 2024, to August 5, 2025.

With the addition of these three Champions tournaments, the PCB will oversee 261 matches across eight men’s senior tournaments. This includes 131 first-class matches across three events, 40 50-over matches across two, and 97 T20 matches across three events. The 2023-24 season featured 203 matches across six men’s senior tournaments, comprising 51 first-class matches in two tournaments, 55 50-over matches in two events, and 97 T20 matches.

Key Aspects of the Newly Introduced Champions Tournaments Include

Each Champions Cup event will feature five teams: Dolphins, Lions, Panthers, Stallions, and Wolves competing in a double-league format. Approximately 150 of the country’s top domestic players from the past three years, along with centrally contracted players, will be eligible for selection (more details will be provided later). Each team will be supported by a former Pakistan cricket superstar serving as a mentor and potentially as an owner (names and details to be announced soon).

The support staff for each team is expected to include a Head Coach (at least Level 3 with a minimum of five years experience with a first-class side), batting, bowling, and fielding coaches (minimum Level 3 with three years experience), Strength and Conditioning Coach, Physiotherapist, Analyst, Operations Manager, and Media/Digital Media Manager.

Teams will train and practice at dedicated Regional High-Performance Centres located in Faisalabad (High-Performance Centre Faisalabad), Karachi (Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Centre), Lahore (National Cricket Academy), Multan (Inzamam-ul-Haq High-Performance Centre), and Sialkot (High-Performance Centre, Sialkot).

Enhanced domestic contracts will be offered to 150 cricketers in the following categories: Category 1 (40 players) will receive PKR 550,000 per month; Category 2 (50 players) will receive PKR 400,000 per month; and Category 3 (60 players) will receive PKR 250,000 per month. In comparison, the 2023-24 season offered domestic contracts at PKR 300,000 for A+ Category, PKR 200,000 for A Category, PKR 185,000 for B Category, PKR 170,000 for C Category, PKR 150,000 for D Category, PKR 100,000 for E Category, and PKR 50,000 for F Category.

In addition to monthly retainers, players will receive improved match fees: PKR 200,000 for red-ball cricket, PKR 125,000 for 50-over matches, and PKR 100,000 for T20 matches. For the 2023-24 season, match fees were PKR 80,000 for red-ball cricket and PKR 40,000 for white-ball cricket.

Each team will have a Corporate Sponsor and Media Partner. Additional revenue sources will include broadcast and live-streaming rights, event title sponsorship, ground branding rights, and ticket sales/merchandise.

The Champions One-Day Cup will kick off the PCB Men’s Domestic Cricket Season 2024-25, with the 21-match tournament scheduled from September 1 to 29.The season will wrap up with the Champions First-Class Cup, set to take place from May 28 to August 5.

Alongside the eight men’s senior tournaments running from August 2024 to September 2025, the PCB will also organize 11 development and pathway tournaments, separate from the three Pakistan Shaheens and one Pakistan U19 away series.

This expansion allows emerging players to participate in approximately 13,000 matches across various levels, including schools, colleges, universities, clubs, U15, U17, U19, Regional Inter-District Senior, and Challenge League Senior, covering all formats. This extensive schedule will allow them to showcase their skills, gain recognition from coaches and selectors, and position themselves for selection in regional, departmental, franchise, and Champions teams, all while advancing their cricketing careers.

By PCB

The tentative dates for the eight men’s senior tournaments in the PCB Men’s Domestic Cricket Season 2024-25 are as follows (schedules, formats, and additional details will be announced closer to the time):

Champions One-Day Cup: September 1-29 (five teams, 21 matches) (new event)

President’s Cup (50-over): October 3-15 (nine teams, 19 matches) (formerly seven teams, 24 matches in 2023-24)

Quaid-e-Azam Trophy: October 20-December 18 (18 teams, 73 matches) (previously eight teams, 29 matches in 2023-24)

Champions T20 Cup: December 21-January 2 (five teams, 21 matches) (new tournament)

President’s Trophy (first-class): January 6-March 7 (nine teams, 37 matches) (previously seven teams, 22 matches in 2023-24)

National T20 Cup: March 13-21 (18 teams, 35 matches) (previously 18 teams, 63 matches in 2023-24)

Pakistan Super League 2025: April 10-May 25 (six teams, 34 matches) (same as 2023-24)

Champions First-Class Cup: May 28-August 5 (five teams, 21 matches) (new event)

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi

“Our current standings – sixth in Tests, fourth in ODIs, and seventh in T20Is – do not reflect the true potential and legacy of Pakistan cricket. To restore our rightful place at the top of world cricket, we must innovate and strategically enhance, expand, and strengthen our domestic structure. The introduction of the three Champions tournaments is a bold step in this direction.

“The Champions tournaments will bring together our most talented and consistent performers from domestic cricket with our centrally contracted players, creating an environment that mirrors the intensity of international cricket. With broadcast matches, legendary mentors, elite coaching staff, and extensive media coverage, these tournaments will provide our players with the exposure and experience they need.

“These tournaments are not just about bridging the gap between domestic and international cricket, they are about revolutionising and rejuvenating our entire cricketing ecosystem. By establishing a clear and progressive pathway from clubs, schools and universities to intra-district, to inter-district, to regional/department competitions, we are nurturing the next generation of cricketing stars.

“The Champions tournaments will offer our players a platform to experience the rigors and pressures of international cricket right here at home. This is crucial for building a robust and highly competitive domestic structure that consistently produces world-class talent.

“I am incredibly optimistic about the future of Pakistan cricket. The investments we are making through the Champions tournaments will pay immense dividends. We are dedicated to identifying, nurturing, and preparing our best talent to represent Pakistan on the global stage.”

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Katarzyna Nowak

Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Top Cricket News, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.