The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the schedule and squads for the National T20 Cup, which will take place in Peshawar from March 7 to March 18.

The tournament will feature 10 regional teams divided into two groups, while former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been left out of the competition after his recent ODI squad omission.

The National T20 Cup 2026 will be held in Peshawar from March 7 to 18, bringing together top regional teams from across Pakistan.

The tournament serves as one of Pakistan’s most important domestic T20 competitions, offering players an opportunity to showcase their skills and compete for national selection.

10 teams in 2 groups

The PCB has divided the 10 participating regional teams into two groups for the group stage of the tournament.

Group A

Group A includes the following teams:

Lahore Whites
Peshawar
Faisalabad
Karachi Whites
Bahawalpur

Group B

Group B features:

Lahore Blues (defending champions)
Sialkot
Multan
Abbottabad
Karachi Blues

Defending champions Lahore Blues will begin the tournament looking to retain their title against strong regional competition.

Two matches daily

According to the schedule released by the PCB, two matches will be played each day during the group stage. The same format will also apply to the semi-final stage, ensuring a packed and competitive tournament schedule.

Also Read: Babar, Saim out as PCB names ODI squad for Bangladesh

The format aims to keep the tournament fast-paced and maximize opportunities for teams to compete within the limited timeframe.

Babar Azam dropped

In a notable development, Babar Azam has been dropped from the National T20 Cup squads. The omission comes shortly after the former Pakistan captain was left out of the national ODI squad, marking another setback for the star batter.

His absence from the tournament has drawn attention from cricket fans, as Babar has long been considered one of Pakistan’s top performers in domestic and international cricket.

On the other hand, the PCB has also unveiled Pakistan’s 15-member squad for the upcoming ODI series against Bangladesh. The announcement brings major changes, including the exclusion of Babar Azam and Saim Ayub.

Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi will continue to lead Pakistan in the 50-over format. The left-arm pacer retains the captaincy as the team prepares for the three-match ODI series in Dhaka.

Also Read: Sahibzada Farhan climbs to second in latest ICC T20I rankings

Former captain Babar Azam has been left out of the ODI squad, marking one of the most significant decisions in the selection announcement. Young batter Saim Ayub has also been dropped.

The exclusions signal a potential shift in team strategy ahead of upcoming international commitments.

New inclusions

Several players have been included in the squad for the Bangladesh tour. These include Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, and Haris Rauf.

Hussain Talat, Moaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Rizwan, and Mohammad Wasim Junior are also part of the lineup.

Additionally, Shamil Hussain, Mohammad Ghazi Ghauri, Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan, and Salman Ali Agha have secured places in the squad.