21-time champion Karachi knocked out of Quaid-e-Azam Trophy

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has suddenly reduced the number of teams in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy from eighteen to eight, with teams from Faisalabad, Multan and Rawalpindi also missing out on playing directly in the new season.

The Karachi team, which has become the national champion the most times, has also been dropped from the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

Without prior announcement, the country’s premier tournament, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, has been reduced from eighteen to just eight teams.
Karachi Region has written a dissenting note stating that if it had been announced last season that the number of teams would be reduced, it would have accepted the decision.

In the last season, 18 teams were in action in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. Based on the points table, the top 6 teams got direct entry, which does not include the Karachi team.
Two other top teams from the Grade 2 Hanif Muhammad Cup will make it to the top. The Karachi team can play in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy by topping it. If it does not reach the top two, then for the first time, the 21-time champion Karachi will not be part of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

The teams that directly qualify for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy include teams from Lahore Blues, Sialkot, Peshawar, Islamabad Abbottabad and Bahawalpur.