Departmental cricket team Sahir Associates has withdrawn from this year’s President’s Trophy Grade-I, calling the decision a “principled stance” over the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) revised financial requirements and planning process. The department informed the PCB’s organizing committee of its decision through an email, clarifying that the withdrawal was not due to an inability to meet the new financial conditions.

The department informed the PCB’s organizing committee of its decision through an email, clarifying that the withdrawal was not due to an inability to meet the new financial conditions.

Instead, Sahir Associates stressed the need for collaborative planning, structured dialogue, and a gradual transition when introducing changes to domestic cricket.

“Sahir Associates has always regarded participation in this competition as a matter of institutional pride, and our intention to field a competitive first-class side this year remains sincere. However, after careful deliberation, we have decided to withdraw from the current edition of the tournament,” the department said.

It added that sustainable growth in domestic cricket required all stakeholders to be given sufficient time to align their operations with revised requirements without facing unnecessary disruption.

“This decision is not a reflection of our capacity to meet the revised financial requirements, but rather a principled stance on the importance of collaborative, phased planning in the stewardship of domestic cricket,” the email read.

“We believe that sustainable growth is best served through structured dialogue and gradual transition, ensuring that all stakeholders can align their operations without undue disruption.”

Sahir Associates expressed hope that future editions of the President’s Trophy Grade-I would be planned with input from all participating departments.

The department also reaffirmed its commitment to Pakistani cricket and said it was willing to return to the tournament under a framework based on shared institutional values.

“We hold the PCB and this tournament in the highest regard, and we trust that future editions will be shaped through the collective input of all participating departments,” it said.

“We remain fully committed to Pakistani cricket and look forward to rejoining the competition under a framework that reflects shared institutional values.”

The development came a day after Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) informed its players that it would not participate in the 2026–27 domestic season due to financial constraints.

KRL had said that a substantial increase in the PCB’s entry fee had made participation financially unviable. Its management also informed players that the entire squad would be released.

Players who had already received offers from other departmental teams were allowed to join them immediately, while those without offers were to remain under contract until their agreements expired in September.

However, KRL reversed its decision just hours after announcing its withdrawal after its deadlock with the PCB over various issues was resolved amicably.

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