Babar Azam to face Shaheen Afridi as Quaid-e-Azam Trophy begins November 3

Pakistan’s premier domestic first-class competition, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, is set to return for its 69th edition on Tuesday, November 3, with eight teams competing in the Gold tier and another 12 featuring in the parallel Silver competition.

The Gold competition will get underway on November 3 and continue until December 12, with eight regional teams battling for a place in the final.

The championship match, featuring the two highest-ranked sides, is scheduled to take place from December 15 to 19.

Defending champions Karachi Blues will be joined by Faisalabad, FATA, Lahore Whites, Islamabad, Peshawar, Multan and Sialkot Blues in the premier division.

A total of 29 first-class matches will be contested in the Gold tier, providing players with an opportunity to demonstrate their credentials in the country's leading red-ball competition.

Which high-profile players will feature in the opening round?

Babar Azam is among the biggest attractions of the tournament and will represent Lahore Whites during the opening round.

The Pakistan Test captain is scheduled to come up against FATA, led by left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, at Islamabad's Diamond Cricket Ground.

The contest will bring two of Pakistan's leading international players face to face in domestic cricket.

Several other established names will also be involved. Mohammad Rizwan will captain Peshawar Blues, while Saud Shakeel will lead defending champions Karachi Blues.

Imam-ul-Haq has been named Multan's captain, Abdullah Shafique will lead Sialkot Blues, and Muhammad Irfan Khan will take charge of Faisalabad. Meanwhile, Lahore Whites will be captained by all-rounder Aamir Jamal.

How will the Gold and Silver competitions operate?

Alongside the eight-team Gold tournament, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will conduct a 12-team Silver competition, creating an additional platform for emerging and established domestic players.

The Silver tournament will be divided into two groups, each comprising six teams.

Group A includes Lahore Blues, Rawalpindi, Larkana, Quetta, Bahawalpur and Peshawar Whites.

Group B features Karachi Whites, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Hyderabad, Dera Murad Jamali, Abbottabad and Sialkot Whites.

The two groups will compete in a round-robin format, with the leading teams advancing to the five-day final scheduled for December 3 to 7.

The group-stage matches will run from November 3 to 30.

Group A fixtures will be played at three Karachi venues: KCCA Stadium, SBP Sports Complex and UBL Sports Complex.

Meanwhile, Multan Cricket Stadium, Sports Complex Rahim Yar Khan and Dring Stadium in Bahawalpur will host Group B encounters.

The Silver competition will feature 31 first-class matches in total.

Importantly, the tournament will also provide a promotion pathway to the Gold tier for the following season.

Who are the key players in the Gold-tier squads?

The eight participating teams have announced their initial squads, featuring a combination of international cricketers, experienced domestic performers and promising under-21 players.

Faisalabad will be captained by Muhammad Irfan Khan, with Abdul Samad appointed vice-captain. Their squad includes all-rounder Faheem Ashraf, fast bowler Khurram Shahzad and Ahmed Safi Abdullah.

FATA have assembled a strong lineup under Shaheen Shah Afridi. Khushdil Shah, Muhammad Wasim Khan, Sameen Gul, Hayatullah and wicketkeeper Rehan Afridi are among the notable names in the squad.

Islamabad will be led by Shamyl Hussain, with Rohail Nazir, Hasan Nawaz, Musa Khan and Sarmad Bhatti included in their initial selection.

Defending champions Karachi Blues have named Saud Shakeel as captain. Their squad features Saim Ayub, Omair Bin Yousuf, Danish Aziz, Usman Khan and Afnan Khan.

Shan Masood, who is recovering from injury, and spinner Abrar Ahmed are among the players listed in the reserves and national-duty pool.

Lahore Whites will rely on Babar Azam's experience alongside Noman Ali, Tayyab Tahir, Aamir Jamal, Hunain Shah and Muhammad Salman Mirza. Aamir Jamal will lead the side.

Multan's lineup will be headed by Imam-ul-Haq, with Aamer Yamin, Sharoon Siraj, Faisal Akram and several emerging players forming part of the squad.

Peshawar Blues have arguably one of the most recognisable combinations, with Mohammad Rizwan appointed captain. Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Haris, Iftikhar Ahmed, Sajid Khan and Abbas Afridi are also included.

Sialkot Blues, meanwhile, will be led by Abdullah Shafique, with Muhammad Huraira, Hasan Ali, Ammad Butt, Muhammad Ali and Hamza Sheraz among the selected players. Muhammad Tayyab Arif has been named vice-captain.

Will teams be allowed to make changes during the tournament?

The PCB has introduced a revolving squad arrangement for the Gold competition, allowing teams greater flexibility in managing their playing resources.

Each participating side will have 15 travelling squad members but can also call upon players from their reserve lists and national-duty pools when required or when those players become available.

The arrangement is expected to help teams manage player availability, particularly when members of their squads are involved in international assignments.