PCB announces schedule for 2013-14 domestic season

Proceedings begin from third week of October.

KARACHI: The new domestic season 2013-14 will begin from the third week of October, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced yesterday.

The season will kick off with two first-class tournaments — the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and the President’s Trophy.

The Quaid Trophy will comprise 14 regional teams divided in two groups and a total of 61 matches, while the President’s Trophy will be played between 11 departmental sides on a league basis with a total number of 56 matches. The tournaments will begin from October 23 and will continue till the start of next year.

SNGPL will have their sights set on defending their President’s Trophy crown after they won the title last year, defeating HBL in the final.

Karachi Blues will enter the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy as the defending champions after their triumphant campaign under coach Azam Khan, who is currently with the Pakistan U19 side.

As reported by The Express Tribune earlier, the PCB had revised a two-decade old format of staging first-class and one-day tournaments together. The one-day events for both regions and departments will begin from October 28.

In the regional one-day competition, 45 matches will be played between 14 teams while 56 matches will be played among 11 departmental outfits.

Twenty20 tournament to be played in between

In addition to the already congested schedule, the regional Twenty20 tournament will be given space between the first-class and one-day events.

“The Twenty20 Cup for regions will be played from November 20-29,” read an offical PCB press release. “A total of 17 teams divided into four groups will play 35 matches.

“T20 tournament for departments will be played from February 18-21 as 11 teams divided into two groups will participate to play in 28 matches.”

The Inter Region U19 three-day tournament and one-day competition will also start in October and  run till December.

Finally, the season will conclude with the Patron’s Trophy Grade-II tournament to be played from March 1-31.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 2^nd, 2013.

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