Domestic Cricket Season 2025-26: Fitness Tests Prioritize Player Readiness

The domestic cricket season for 2025-26 is scheduled to commence in August, starting with the Hanif Mohammad Trophy featuring 12 teams, followed by the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, which will include eight top teams.

All 16 regional squads participating in these competitions will undergo fitness evaluations for their provisional teams in the week leading up to the season’s commencement.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has established an extensive fitness testing protocol that includes two tiers: one for emerging players and another for cricketers involved in major domestic tournaments representing regions or departments.

Initial fitness evaluations were conducted during the PCB Challenge Cup and the Senior Inter-District Tournaments, overseen by the PCB’s strength and conditioning trainers across 107 districts.

In the next phase, approximately 400 players vying for selection in their respective regional teams will be assessed at regional headquarters in August.

Additionally, players under 19, preparing to participate in the Regional U19 One-Day Cup, will also be examined prior to the tournament.

Regional first-class players will face a series of tests designed to evaluate their preparedness for competitive cricket and their eligibility for domestic contracts in the upcoming season.

These fitness assessments will be reviewed by both regional coaches and the PCB, with the aim of identifying and resolving fitness issues among players.

Notably, the PCB will also perform fitness evaluations for departmental cricketers in Grades I, II, and III.

Previously, departments managed their own testing, but the PCB will now supervise this process in collaboration with all departments, emphasizing strength and conditioning enhancements.

The pre-season fitness program is designed to ensure that only players in optimal condition participate, thereby raising the standard and competitiveness of domestic cricket.

Players who do not pass the fitness evaluations—even after a second attempt—will be prohibited from participating in any domestic tournaments.