PCB Introduces Three-Tier Departmental Structure to Revamp Domestic Cricket 2025-26

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made a major announcement for the 2025-26 domestic season by introducing a three-tier departmental cricket structure. The new system means a serious change from the two-tier system in the past and is part of the current initiative by PCB to further enhance competitiveness and opportunities in the field of cricket in the country.

Key Features of the New Three-Tier Domestic Structure

Expanded Participation and Tiers

1. More than 40 departments from across Pakistan will now participate in the domestic season.
2. The teams are divided into three grades:
   • Grade-I
   • Grade-II
   • Grade-III (newly introduced)

Structure and Scheduling

1. The domestic calendar for 2025-26 will run from August 2025 to May 2026.
2. It has first-class, List A, three-day and two-day matches at all levels, offering a variation in match experience to both emerging and established players.

Promotion and Relegation

The system introduces merit-based promotion and relegation between all three tiers.

1. Top two Grade-III teams will be promoted to Grade-II for the next season.
2. Bottom two Grade-II teams will be relegated to Grade-III.
3. Similarly, the winner of the Grade-II tournament moves up to Grade-I, replacing the team relegated from that tier.

Details for Each Grade

1. Grade-I will feature both first-class and List-A (50-over) competitions. There are eight teams, such as Ghani Glass, Khan Research Laboratories, Oil and Gas Development Company Limited, Pakistan Television, Sahir Associates, State Bank of Pakistan, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited, and WAPDA.
   
   1. These teams compete in the President’s Cup (List-A, 31 matches) and the President’s Trophy (First-class, 29 matches).
   2. Bottom teams face relegation to Grade-II.
2. Grade-II includes 14 teams: 12 from last season’s points table and 2 relegated from Grade-I.
   • The President’s Trophy Grade-II (three-day matches) takes place March–May 2026.
   • The winner earns promotion to participate in Grade-I the following season.
3. Grade-III is a new addition.
   • Teams are selected based on their standings in the 2024-25 Grade-II President’s Trophy.
   • Two-day matches are scheduled for March–April 2026.
   • Promotion and relegation to and from Grade-II are active.

What PCB Has to Say About the New Structure

Abdullah Khurram Niazi, Director of Domestic Cricket Operations at PCB, summed up the board’s vision:

1. “Departmental cricket has become the bedrock of our domestic season for the third year straight. The PCB is proud and highly appreciates the efforts of more than 40 departments in helping Pakistan cricket grow by investing in talent and taking part in the domestic cricket season.”
2. “We have incentivised the departmental cricket by dividing it into three tiers and creating a highly competitive structure for all the teams, which will surely lead to enhancing the quality of our domestic cricket.”
3. “I eagerly look forward to seeing more than 400 players deservingly taking part in our domestic season, representing various departments as we strive for the betterment and growth of cricket on the domestic front.”

The board also highlighted that departments are expected to assemble women’s teams in the upcoming months, as part of a broader strategy to expand and strengthen women’s cricket in Pakistan.

Reasons Behind the Revamp

1. Increase Competitiveness: There is a direct encouragement to all teams to compete when there is a promotion and relegation in place, and this enhances the overall quality of domestic competition in cricket.
2. Broaden Talent Base: With more departments and matches, over 400 players get opportunities to play. This helps PCB spot and nurture new talent from across Pakistan.
3. Diverse Experiences: The combination of first-class, List A, three-day, and two-day matches means players gain comprehensive experience needed for national and international cricket careers.
4. Clear Progression Pathways: The tier system eases the tracking of progression in the different ranks by the managers, players, and fans alike, coming up with plans.

Conclusion

The three-tier domestic cricket structure of PCB for the season 2025-26 is intended to make their domestic cricket ecosystem tough, competitive, and selected on merit. With more than 40 departments having a definite line of promotion and relegations and offering a variety of match formats, PCB expects to see a boost in the quality of local cricket as well as opportunities available to young and qualified talent.

With the ongoing domestic cricketing season, everyone awaits the performance of this much-awaited revamped system in providing better Pakistani cricketing and also hazing up a new generation of Pakistani cricketers.