PCB Names Officials for National Champions Cup: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the match officials for the upcoming National Champions Cup, which will mark the beginning of the 2026-27 domestic cricket season.
Former Pakistan Test cricketers Ali Naqvi and Kamran Chaudhary have been appointed to oversee the playing control teams during the tournament. Both officials are members of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Panel of Match Referees.
The tournament will feature a mix of officials from the ICC International Panel of Umpires and the PCB National Elite Panel.
Asif Yaqoob, Faisal Khan Aafreedi, Nasir Hussain and Rashid Riaz Waqar will represent the ICC International Panel of Umpires. They will be joined by Abdul Moqeet, Syed Imtiaz Iqbal, Tariq Rasheed and Zulfiqar Jan from the PCB’s National Elite Panel of Umpires.
For the opening fixture on Tuesday, August 11, Asif Yaqoob and Zulfiqar Jan will serve as the on-field umpires. Faisal Khan Aafreedi has been assigned the third-umpire role, while Syed Imtiaz Iqbal will be the fourth official.
Read also: https://icasportsplus.com/galle-gallants-beat-colombo-kaps-to-reach-lpl-final/
The PCB has also finalized the officials for the tournament’s title decider. Ali Naqvi will head the playing control team for the final, with Asif Yaqoob and Rashid Riaz Waqar appointed as on-field umpires. Faisal Khan Aafreedi will take charge as third umpire, while Nasir Hussain will serve as the fourth umpire.
The 2026 National Champions Cup will feature four teams: Pakistan Greens, Pakistan Whites, Pakistan Blues and Pakistan Gold.
The competition will follow a single round-robin format, with each side facing the others before the top two teams qualify for the final. A total of seven matches will be played during the tournament.
All matches are scheduled as day-night fixtures, with play set to begin at 3pm local time. The competition will subsequently provide the opening action of Pakistan’s 2026-27 domestic cricket calendar.
