The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has relocated matches in the ongoing President’s Trophy Grade 1 tournament from Peshawar and Abbottabad to venues in Punjab following the declaration of a state of emergency and the imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The decision comes amid political instability in the province, where the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) previously led the provincial government. The changes affect fixtures scheduled at Imran Khan Stadium in Peshawar and Abbottabad Cricket Stadium as the domestic first-class competition approaches the concluding stages of its league phase.

Under the revised schedule, Ghani will face Hyderabad Kingsmen Academy at Rana Naveed Academy in Sheikhupura from October 14. Meanwhile, the match between Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) has been shifted to the LCCA Ground in Lahore, near Gaddafi Stadium. Both fixtures were originally scheduled to take place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The relocation allows the PCB to continue the tournament at alternative venues while the situation in the province remains unsettled.

Matches scheduled in Islamabad and Rawalpindi will continue as planned, with the sixth round of the competition beginning on October 12. The current round is the penultimate stage of the league phase, in which the eight participating teams compete in a round-robin format. Each team faces every other side once, and the two teams finishing highest in the standings will qualify for the final. The revised arrangements are intended to keep the remaining fixtures on track despite the changes to the venue schedule.

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The PCB has also revised the schedule for the final round, which will now begin on October 19, a day later than originally planned. Lahore’s LCCA Ground is scheduled to host the match between Markhor IT Solutions and Pakistan Television, while the National Cricket Ground in Islamabad will stage the Hyderabad Kingsmen Academy versus State Bank of Pakistan fixture. Diamond Club Ground will also be used for matches in the capital. The board has yet to announce the venue for the tournament final.

The emergency declaration followed growing political and security tensions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistan’s federal government announced the measure on October 11, with authorities citing concerns over rising militant attacks and security challenges in the province bordering Afghanistan. The move has intensified the dispute between the federal government and PTI, which has criticised the intervention. The political developments have also prompted heightened security arrangements as the country prepares for further demonstrations.

The relocation of the President’s Trophy matches highlights how political and security developments can affect domestic sporting events, including travel arrangements and the use of regional venues. With the league stage nearing its conclusion, the PCB must now complete the revised fixtures before determining the finalists. The changes shift the affected matches to Sheikhupura and Lahore while preserving the existing arrangements in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, allowing the competition to continue under its updated schedule.

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