Free entry announced for national champions cup in Multan

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced free entry for cricket fans attending the upcoming National Champions Cup, which is scheduled

MULTAN: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced free entry for cricket fans attending the upcoming National Champions Cup, which is scheduled to take place from 11 to 18 August at the Multan Cricket Stadium.

The PCB confirmed the decision through an official promotional flyer shared on its social media platforms. The move is expected to encourage cricket supporters to attend the matches and watch some of the country’s leading domestic players in action.

The tournament will feature seven matches all of which will be played under day-night conditions. According to the schedule, the matches are expected to begin at around 3 pm local time.

The National Champions Cup is a new 50-over List-A domestic competition and will also officially mark the beginning of Pakistan’s 2026-27 domestic cricket season. Four teams will participate in the tournament: Pakistan Greens, Pakistan Whites, Pakistan Blues and Pakistan Gold.

The competition will follow a single-league round-robin format meaning each team will compete against the other participating sides during the league stage. At the conclusion of the league matches, the two teams with the highest points will qualify for the final, where they will compete for the tournament title.

The PCB has also finalised the playing XIs for all four teams. In addition, a 13-player reserve pool has been selected for the competition. The reserve players will remain with their respective teams during training sessions and match days.

According to the PCB’s arrangements, reserve players can be included in the playing XI if a team faces an injury or concussion-related replacement requirement after announcing its original XI. This arrangement is intended to ensure that teams have adequate cover throughout the competition.

The tournament will feature several prominent Pakistan players as captains. Shaheen Shah Afridi will lead Pakistan Gold, while Shadab Khan has been appointed captain of Pakistan Greens. Saim Ayub will captain Pakistan Whites, whereas Sahibzada Farhan will lead Pakistan Blues.

The Champions Cup is particularly important as the PCB continues its preparations for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. The board has selected a wider pool of 44 players along with reserve players, to provide opportunities for cricketers to demonstrate their abilities and strengthen their claims for future national selection.

The domestic competition will therefore serve as an important platform for players seeking to establish themselves at the national level. Performances during the tournament could help the selectors assess the form, fitness and consistency of players ahead of future international assignments.

With free admission, a strong line-up of players and the opening of the new domestic season, the National Champions Cup is expected to attract considerable interest from cricket fans in Multan and across Pakistan. The tournament will provide supporters with an opportunity to watch emerging and established players compete in a competitive 50-over format while the PCB continues its broader preparations for the next World Cup cycle.