The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy is the premier first-class cricket competition in Pakistan, steeped in over 7 decades of domestic cricket tradition. Making a 1xBet login mobile is the best way to bet on these kinds of tournaments.
Named after Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder and first Governor-General of Pakistan, affectionately called Quaid-e-Azam or “Great Leader”, the tournament was introduced in the 1953-54 season. Its purpose was to help identify talent for Pakistan’s national side, particularly ahead of its first Test tour of England in 1954. The best selection of cricket Test matches will become available to bet at 1xBet mobile by making a login to the platform.
The inaugural tournament featured seven teams representing both regional associations and government departments, with 6 participants being:
- Bahawalpur;
- Punjab;
- Karachi;
- North-West Frontier Province;
- Sindh;
- Combined Services;
- and Pakistan Railways.
Bahawalpur emerged as the first champions, defeating Punjab in the final.
Setting up the domestic cricket structure of Pakistan
In its early years, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy helped establish Pakistan’s domestic cricket structure. Don’t forget to also make your 1xBet login so you can bet on those exciting Pakistani domestic tournaments as well.
The format and composition of teams have shifted frequently over the decades. It has oscillated between knockout competitions, round-robin league phases, group stages and finals, as well as 2-division systems with promotion and relegation.
Karachi’s dominance began in the late 1950s and extended for decades. Karachi teams have won the trophy more times than any other side, with Karachi Blues and Karachi Whites among the most successful outfits. Making a login at 1xBet will also allow you to wager on cricket teams from Karachi and other parts from Pakistan as well.
The competition also saw the rise of departmental teams in the 1960s, such as Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which became the first departmental side to win the trophy in 1969-70. During the 1970s and 1980s, departmental sides often overshadowed regional teams, winning many editions.
Over time, the tournament’s competitive landscape broadened as smaller cities and regions, such as Peshawar, Sialkot, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi, challenged the traditional powerhouses. This has contributed to a more balanced domestic scene.
Recent years have seen structural reforms by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to refine the domestic model. Ahead of the 2019-20 season, the board introduced 6 newly formed regional teams. Later editions expanded and then adjusted the number of competing sides based on evolving policies.