The Pakistan Cricket Board on Wednesday announced the schedule of six senior events, including the Quaid-e-Azam trophy, the jewel-crown of the country’s domestic events.
The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy will be played between October 20 and December 29 with six of the teams, Sindh, Balochistan, Central Punjab, South Punjab, Northern, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) competing against each other.
This year, the tournament will be played across four venues; Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, and Karachi respectively and the final will be played in National Stadium, Karachi.
Last year, the 63rd edition of the Quaid-e-Azam trophy finished on a high as a number of records tumbled during the exciting 31-match tournament played across four Karachi venues.
The final between Khyber Pakthunkhwa and Central Punjab ends as a tie. It was the first time in the history books the final was finished tied, and the trophy had to be shared between the two teams.
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Hasan Ali’s blistering batting was cruising Central Punjab to the victory. He played the innings of 106* on 61 balls but Waqas Maqsood got caught out when the scores were tied on Sajid Khan’s delivery. Hasan’s heroic innings come to an end if he would have delivered that for Central Punjab perhaps it would have become the most heroic innings in the history of the Quaid-e-Azam trophy. It still is without a doubt but grabbing the trophy from the opposition in those circumstances would have been brilliant. Nevertheless, he was given the player of the series award.
Covid protocols
The cricket board has clarified that only players who are either fully vaccinated or have received their first jabs will be allowed to participate in the domestic season.
Each player will take a PCR test three days before travelling for the season, and self-isolate themselves for three days before the scheduled departure. The players will be tested again when they arrive at the central station, subject to the first negative test.
According to the PCB, all playing and non-playing staff will undergo Rapid Antigen tests every five days or when the team travels to a different destination, while random RT-PCR tests will be conducted at select events.
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In case any player returns a positive Antigen test, he will be isolated immediately and undergo an RT-PCR. If the test result is positive, then he will be isolated for 10 days under the predefined Covid-19 protocol.
Players will be allowed to visit only designated areas inside the hotel; however, mask and social distancing will be mandatory.
The board has also shared detailed Covid-19 Protocols with the team managers who, with the support of the team physiotherapist, will be responsible for the implementation.
Here’s the full schedule of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2021-22
20-23 Oct – Balochistan v Sindh, Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad; Central Punjab v Southern Punjab, Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa v Northern, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
27-30 Oct – Balochistan v Southern Punjab, Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa v
Sindh, Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad; Central Punjab v Northern, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
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3-6 Nov – Balochistan v Central Punjab, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore; Northern v Sindh Multan Cricket Stadium; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa v Southern Punjab, Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
10-13 Nov – Balochistan v Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore; Central Punjab v Sindh, Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad; Northern v Southern Punjab, Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan
17-20 Nov – Northern v Balochistan, Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad; Southern Punjab v Sindh, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore; Central Punjab v Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan
24-27 Nov – Sindh v Balochistan, UBL Sports Complex, Karachi; Southern Punjab v Central Punjab, SBP Sports Complex, Karachi; Northern v Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, NBP Sports Complex, Karachi
30Nov 3 Dec – Southern Punjab v Balochistan, UBL Sports Complex; Sindh v Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, SBP Sports Complex; Northern v Central Punjab, NBP Sports Complex
6-9 Dec – Central Punjab v Balochistan, NBP Sports Complex; Sindh v Northern, UBL Sports Complex; Southern Punjab v Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, SBP Sports Complex
12-15 Dec – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa v Balochistan, UBL Sports Complex; Sindh v Central Punjab, SBP Sports Complex; Southern Punjab v Northern, NBP Sports Complex
18-21 Dec – Balochistan v Northern, SBP Sports Complex; Sindh v Southern Punjab, NBP Sports Complex; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa v Central Punjab, UBL Sports Complex
25-29 Dec – Final National Stadium Karachi
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Other Important Domestic Events
Meanwhile, the PCB has also announced the schedule for the National T20, Pakistan Cup, and Pakistan Super League (PSL).
The National T20 Cup will be held from September 25 to October 13. The first 18 matches will be played in Multan, while the remaining 15 will be staged in Lahore.
The 50-over Pakistan Cup is scheduled to be played from February 25 with Lahore hosting March 30 final. Faisalabad and Multan are among the venues announced for the double-league tournament.
The seventh edition of the HBL PSL will be played in January-February, instead of February March, as Pakistan expects to host Australia in that slot.
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