The National Champions Cup has officially begun in Multan, marking the start of Pakistan’s 2026-27 domestic cricket season. The four-team 50-over List-A tournament is being staged at the Multan Cricket Stadium from August 11 to 18, with seven matches scheduled during the competition.
The opening match features Pakistan Greens against Pakistan Whites on Tuesday, August 11. All matches in the tournament are being played as day-night fixtures, with the first ball scheduled for 3pm local time.
Pakistan Greens, Pakistan Whites, Pakistan Blues and Pakistan Gold are competing in the tournament under a single-league round-robin format. Each team will face the other three sides once, while the top two teams in the standings will qualify for the final on August 18.
The tournament features several prominent Pakistan players and emerging domestic talents. Shaheen Shah Afridi is leading Pakistan Gold, while other notable names in the squads include Saim Ayub, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Khushdil Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Nawaz.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has described the tournament as an important part of preparations for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. The competition will provide leading players with valuable 50-over cricket while giving selectors an opportunity to assess performances ahead of major international assignments.
With the domestic season now underway, attention will remain on the performances of Pakistan’s established stars and emerging players throughout the week. The Multan Cricket Stadium will host all seven matches, culminating in the tournament final on August 18.
The Champions Cup is the first of two List-A competitions planned for Pakistan’s 2026-27 domestic calendar, highlighting the PCB’s focus on strengthening the country’s one-day cricket structure and building depth ahead of the next World Cup cycle.
