Champions ODI Cup and Champions T20 Cup will start in Pakistan, these 5 teams will participate in the first edition

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday announced the introduction of three new tournaments in the men's domestic cricket season 2024-25, including the Champions ODI Cup, Champions T20 Cup, and Champions First Class Cup. The new tournaments will join the list of existing tournaments, including the National T20 Cup, Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, President Trophy, President Cup, and HBL Pakistan Super League 2025.

The 2024-25 season of Pakistan cricket will run from 1 September 2024 to 5 August 2025. During this, there will be 261 matches in eight senior tournaments, which is much more than the 203 matches held in the 2023-24 season. The expanded schedule includes 131 first-class matches, 40 50-over matches, and 97 T20 matches. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said, "Seventh place in Tests, fourth in ODIs, and seventh in T20s is beyond our true potential and legacy of Pakistan cricket. To regain that position in world cricket, we need to strengthen our domestic cricket structure. The introduction of three Champions tournaments is an important step in this direction."

The Champions Tournament will feature around 150 top players from across Pakistan, although no details have been revealed about the selection process. The plans have the approval of Waqar Younis, Advisor to Chairman on Cricket Affairs. Younis was also present with Naqvi at the press conference held in Lahore to announce the new tournaments. Younis will be in charge of cricket affairs within the PCB. His role will be similar to Rob for the England Cricket Board.

In the Champions Tournament, five teams Dolphins, Lions, Panthers, Stallions, and Wolves will play the One Day Cup from September 1 to September 29. Each team participating in the Champions Tournament will have an owner and mentor. The teams will have their own high-performance centers in Faisalabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Sialkot.