LAHORE: Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and Kingsmen Academy are set to replace Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and Sahir Associates in the President’s Trophy and Cup Grade-I for the 2026-27 domestic cricket season, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced on Tuesday.
In order to enhance the quality of cricket and maintain high standards of domestic cricket, a number of regulations have been shared with the first-class departmental teams. These regulations are in order to run the President’s Trophy and Cup Grade-I events in a more professional manner after reviewing the last iteration of both events.
Sahir Associates and WAPDA were not able to comply with the PCB’s regulations and have been replaced. Moreover, Departments are set to conduct mandatory fitness tests for their players in line with the domestic cricket’s new fitness policy issued by the PCB for season 2026-27. According to the circulated policy, a criterion has been set to include at least one U-21 player in the playing XI of all departments in white and red-ball tournaments.
The departments will have to meet the regulations, including that of the audit of all participating teams by the PCB during and after tournaments to ensure players are paid their due annual contractual fees, match fees, daily allowances through accounts in a transparent manner along with the provision of sound accommodation and quality food while maintaining the high standards required to take part in first-class and List-A cricket.
The complete pool of eight Grade-I teams for the 2026-27 season includes Khan Research Laboratories (KRL), Kingsmen Academy, Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), Pakistan Television (PTV), Ghani Glass, MIT Solutions, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL).
