PCB Announces Free Entry for Fans in National Champions Cup 2026
MULTAN: The Pakistan Cricket Board will use the National champions cup 2026 to assess a group of established internationals and emerging domestic players ahead of the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, with all matches to be played at Multan Cricket Stadium from August 11 to 18.
The has also opened the tournament to spectators without an entry fee. The move will allow local fans to watch a number of Pakistan’s leading players in a seven-match List-A competition that will launch the country’s 2026-27 domestic season.
Four sides, Pakistan Greens, Pakistan Whites, Pakistan Blues and Pakistan Gold, will contest a single round-robin phase. The two highest-ranked teams will advance to the final on August 18, with every match scheduled as a day-night fixture beginning at 3pm local time.
The tournament has been structured with the 2027 World Cup in mind. The 44 players selected across the four squads, along with a reserve pool, will give the national selectors an extended look at players competing for places in Pakistan’s plans for the tournament in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Several members of Pakistan’s international setup will feature. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan have been appointed captains, while Fakhar Zaman, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Hasan Ali, Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Nawaz are among the other notable names involved.
The PCB has also set fixed playing XIs for each team and named 13 reserve players. Those reserves can only enter the competition when a player suffers an injury or concussion, keeping the squads largely unchanged throughout the tournament.
The opening round begins with Pakistan Greens facing Pakistan Whites on August 11. Pakistan Blues meet Pakistan Gold the following day, followed by Blues against Whites on August 13 and Gold against Greens on August 14. Blues then face Greens on August 15, while Gold take on Whites on August 16 before the top two sides meet in the final on August 18.
With PCB announces free entry in National champions cup 2026, the board is also seeking a strong turnout at Multan Cricket Stadium as the domestic campaign begins.
