PCB Confirms Officials and Fixtures for Multan Event
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the schedule and match officials panel for the National Champions Cup 2026-27 at Multan Cricket Stadium. Running from August 11 to August 18, the seven-match List A tournament features four teams: Pakistan Greens, Whites, Blues, and Gold. All 50-over matches start at 3:00 PM PKT. The officiating panel includes ICC referees Ali Naqvi and Kamran Chaudhary, supported by elite umpires Asif Yaqoob, Rashid Riaz, Faisal Aafreedi, and Nasir Hussain. The final on August 18 will feature top-tier officiating to conclude the event.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finalized the official schedule and match officials panel for the upcoming National Champions Cup 2026-27. Scheduled to take place at the Multan Cricket Stadium from August 11 to August 18, 2026, the 50-over List A tournament will mark the opening of Pakistan’s 2026-27 domestic cricket season.
The competition features four teams—Pakistan Greens, Pakistan Whites, Pakistan Blues, and Pakistan Gold—competing in a single-league round-robin format before the top two teams advance to the final. All seven day-night fixtures will start at 3:00 PM local time (PKT).
Complete Tournament Schedule and Officiating Appointments
The seven-match tournament opens on August 11, with fixtures scheduled daily leading up to the final on August 18. The full match schedule along with appointed playing control teams is detailed below:
- August 11: Pakistan Greens vs. Pakistan Whites
- On-Field Umpires: Asif Yaqoob, Zulfiqar Jan
- Third Umpire: Faisal Khan Aafreedi | Fourth Umpire: Syed Imtiaz Iqbal
- Match Referee: Kamran Chaudhary
- August 12: Pakistan Blues vs. Pakistan Gold
- On-Field Umpires: Rashid Riaz Waqar, Nasir Hussain
- Third Umpire: Abdul Moqeet | Fourth Umpire: Tariq Rasheed
- Match Referee: Ali Naqvi
- August 13: Pakistan Blues vs. Pakistan Whites
- On-Field Umpires: Faisal Khan Aafreedi, Syed Imtiaz Iqbal
- Third Umpire: Asif Yaqoob | Fourth Umpire: Zulfiqar Jan
- Match Referee: Kamran Chaudhary
- August 14: Pakistan Gold vs. Pakistan Greens
- On-Field Umpires: Tariq Rasheed, Abdul Moqeet
- Third Umpire: Rashid Riaz Waqar | Fourth Umpire: Nasir Hussain
- Match Referee: Ali Naqvi
- August 15: Pakistan Blues vs. Pakistan Greens
- On-Field Umpires: Faisal Khan Aafreedi, Zulfiqar Jan
- Third Umpire: Asif Yaqoob | Fourth Umpire: Syed Imtiaz Iqbal
- Match Referee: Kamran Chaudhary
- August 16: Pakistan Gold vs. Pakistan Whites
- On-Field Umpires: Nasir Hussain, Tariq Rasheed
- Third Umpire: Rashid Riaz Waqar | Fourth Umpire: Abdul Moqeet
- Match Referee: Ali Naqvi
- August 18: Final (Top Two Teams)
- On-Field Umpires: Asif Yaqoob, Rashid Riaz Waqar
- Third Umpire: Faisal Khan Aafreedi | Fourth Umpire: Nasir Hussain
- Match Referee: Ali Naqvi
PCB Names Experienced Match Officials Panel
To ensure fair play and maintain standard rules during the tournament, the PCB has named a 10-member panel of experienced match officials. The panel comprises two match referees and eight umpires drawn from both ICC and PCB national elite panels.
Former Test cricketer Ali Naqvi and Kamran Chaudhary will lead the playing control teams throughout the event. Both referees represent the ICC International Panel of Match Referees.
The umpiring team includes four umpires from the ICC International Panel of Umpires:
- Asif Yaqoob
- Faisal Khan Aafreedi
- Nasir Hussain
- Rashid Riaz Waqar
Completing the eight-man umpiring team are four umpires from the PCB National Elite Panel of Umpires:
- Abdul Moqeet
- Syed Imtiaz Iqbal
- Tariq Rasheed
- Zulfiqar Jan
For the grand final on Tuesday, August 18, Ali Naqvi will head the officiating team as match referee, with Asif Yaqoob and Rashid Riaz Waqar taking charge on the field. Faisal Khan Aafreedi and Nasir Hussain will assist as the third and fourth umpires, respectively.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the full schedule for the National Champions Cup 2026-27?
The tournament runs from August 11 to August 18, 2026, featuring round-robin matches every day except August 17 (rest day), concluding with the final on August 18.
2. Where are the matches scheduled to be played?
All seven List A matches will take place at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan, Pakistan.
3. What time will the matches begin each day?
Every match during the National Champions Cup is scheduled as a day-night fixture starting at 3:00 PM local time (PKT).
4. Who will serve as match referees during the tournament?
Former Test cricketer Ali Naqvi and Kamran Chaudhary, both members of the ICC International Panel of Match Referees, will oversee the matches.
5. Which officials are assigned to the tournament final on August 18?
The final will be refereed by Ali Naqvi, with Asif Yaqoob and Rashid Riaz Waqar as on-field umpires, Faisal Khan Aafreedi as third umpire, and Nasir Hussain as fourth umpire.
