After a five-season hiatus, Departmental cricket returned to Pakistan with the President’s Trophy, but not without controversy. Days before the tournament was set to begin, Sui Southern Gas Pipelines (SSGC) pulled out, citing the prioritization of ensuring uninterrupted gas supplies to their over three million customers. This decision left the tournament with seven sides, including traditional department giants such as SNGPL, WAPDA, and KRL. The return of the tournament to the PCB calendar came after Najam Sethi replaced Ramiz Raja as chairman, with a focus on bringing departments back into the game. The restructuring of domestic cricket, led by Prime Minister Imran Khan, led to the disbanding of department cricket, affecting first-class cricketers who had relied on their teams for stable income. Although the President’s Trophy is being played under new regulations, interest in participation has been lukewarm, with criticism from some, including former Pakistan batter Bazid Khan.
