Quaid-e-Azam Trophy: Guide to Pakistan’s First-Class Championship

The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy is Pakistan’s national first-class championship, and the main proving ground for the country’s Test cricketers. This guide explains what it is, how it works and how to follow every match on Alventra Sports.

What is the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy?

The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy is the top level of multi-day domestic cricket in Pakistan. It is organised by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and has first-class status, which means every run and wicket counts in a player’s official first-class career record.

The competition is named after Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, who is known as the Quaid-e-Azam (“Great Leader”).

When did it start?

The first edition was played in the 1953–54 season, which makes it one of the oldest domestic competitions in Asia. It has been held almost every season since.

Over the decades the teams taking part have changed many times. At different points the trophy has been contested by city and regional sides, by teams of government departments and companies, or by a mix of both. Check the current series page for this season’s teams.

How does a Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match work?

Matches are first-class games played over several days, with two innings per side and no limit on overs. A team wins by bowling the other side out twice for fewer runs than it scored itself. If time runs out before that happens, the match is drawn.

Teams earn points for wins and, in most seasons, bonus points for batting and bowling performance in the first innings. The exact points system is set by the PCB each season, so read the points table for the season you are following.

Why does it matter?

Long-format domestic cricket is where Pakistan’s selectors look for Test players. Big scores and wicket hauls in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy are often the first step to a national call-up, and established internationals play in it between tours.

How to follow it on Alventra Sports

  • Open the season from the series list to see every fixture, result and the points table.
  • Each match page has live scores, a full scorecard, ball-by-ball commentary and the Crease Cam replay.
  • Team pages show recent results for every side, and player pages show career batting and bowling by format.
  • New to the terms? The cricket glossary explains run rate, follow-on, declarations and more.