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  • Romero Games disputes claims it has “completely closed”

    Romero Games disputes claims it has “completely closed”

    Despite reports Romero Games has shut down, resulting in over a hundred job losses, the studio has issued a new statement saying reports about closure are inaccurate.

    Initially, the Ireland-based Romero Games announced the cancellation of its upcoming first-person shooter due to its publisher canceling funding for the game, but an anonymous source since told The Journal that “everyone is out of a job.”

    Now, however, Romero Games has disputed these reports and denies claims the studio has closed.

    “The funding for our project was pulled, and our game was canceled,” the statement began. “Due to confidentality agreements, we cannot disclose the publisher’s identity, though some may infer it from public information.

    “As as result, we now have to reassess the entire staffing of our studio. Romero Games is not closed, and we are going everything in our power to ensure that it does not come to that. Any suggestion otherwise is factually incorrect.”

    The statement closes on revealing that the studio has already been contacted by several publishers interested in “helping us bring the game across the finish line, and we’re currently evaluating those opportunities.”

    As the statement attests, Romero Games is not able to confirm its publisher, but it is widely thought to have been working with Microsoft, which began making layoffs across its gaming division last week, just days after multiple rumours and reports started to swirl. As a result of the layoffs, which affected around 9,000 employees, Xbox closed The Initiative, cancelled Perfect Dark, Everwild, and Zenimax Online Studios’ MMO, codenamed Blackbird.

    Earlier today, we reported that Forza Motorsport developer Turn 10 has reportedly been “shuttered,” and “the team is no more.”

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  • Parenteral drugs: FDA replaces guidance on aluminum content limits

    Parenteral drugs: FDA replaces guidance on aluminum content limits

    Parenteral drugs: FDA replaces guidance on aluminum content limits | RAPS

    Regulatory NewsAdvertising, Promotion and LabelingChemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC)ComplianceContaminantsManufacturingNutritional/Natural HealthPharmaceuticalsQuality Assurance and ControlShortagesSterile drugsUnited StatesUS Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

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  • Study reveals accurate association between weak handgrip and a host of diseases among over-50s

    Study reveals accurate association between weak handgrip and a host of diseases among over-50s

    Hand strength measurement with the Rotterdam Intrinsic Hand Myometer (RIHM). In this measurement, the strength of the muscles involved palmar abduction of the thumb are measured Credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rotterdam_Intrinsic_Hand_Myom

    Hazard ratios of developing low HSG (A) and average number of years required to develop low HGS based on cystatin-c/total cholesterol ratio (B), difficulty climbing stairs, depression, age, and gender (C), and various comorbidities and poor quality of lif

    Scientists demonstrate how a weak handgrip can accurately correlate with numerous diseases and poor performance of daily chores among older adults

    SHARJAH, EMIRATE OF SHARJAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, July 7, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ — Researchers have provided robust scientific evidence that ailments like depression, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoarthritis, and difficulties performing daily activities are associated with a frail handgrip, particularly among older adults.

    The team, led by scientists from the University of Sharjah, says their study is the first large-scale investigation to present the prognostic efficacy of probable sarcopenia, the progressive loss of muscle strength among individuals over 50.

    The scientists present their findings, which they claim accurately predict the correlation between several diseases and a frail grip, in the journal Aging Clinical and Experimental Research. (https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-025-03007-6)

    The data for the study is collected from the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), a large-scale European research project that studies individuals aged 50 and above. 17,960 community-dwelling geriatric adults aged 50 and over took part in the study and were monitored between 2025 and 2022.

    The analysis of the data, they write, “exhibited significant prognostic accuracy for low HGS (Handgrip Strength) among men and women aged 60–79, irrespective of the quality of life, degree of depression, difficulties performing daily activities, and the presence of comorbidities, including depression, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer’s disease, and osteoarthritis.”

    Doctors use handgrip strength tests to measure the strength or weakness of a person’s ability to squeeze or grip with their hands. It is a valuable tool to examine a person’s health conditions, particularly those of older adults. Medical professionals carry out these tests to predict potential health problems.

    The authors acknowledge that previous studies present the predictive accuracy of the link between a poor handgrip and the development of several diseases, as well as conditions of daily life for older adults. However, they maintain that the findings in the plethora of available literature are drawn from “small subsets of hospitalized patients and were not replicated in community-dwelling older adults.”

    The authors’ analysis is more comprehensive, covering a large community-dwelling population in residential settings, making it relevant to a variety of age-related lifestyle factors and comorbidities.

    The authors’ investigation is not confined to health problems and diseases that can be associated with a weak handgrip. They also investigate their quality of life, several comorbidities, and difficulties performing daily chores.

    They write, “We observed significant correlations between the CT ratio and handgrip strength in both men and women, regardless of BMI. This supports the general applicability of our findings across different segments of the population. The correlations were more robust in men than women of all age groups.”

    BMI, or Body Mass Index, is a tool by which medical professionals measure body fat using height and weight as guidelines to determine whether an individual’s weight poses any health risks.

    The authors add, “We report significant efficacy of CT ratio for probable sarcopenia in 17,960 community-dwelling older adults from 12 European countries. Specifically, the increasing CT ratio was associated with a higher risk and earlier onset of low HGS in the study population.”

    The scientists demonstrate with “significant prognostic accuracy” that advancing age, male gender, higher than normal BMI, the presence of depression, and Alzheimer’s disease increase the risk of weakening an individual’s handgrip strength.

    The researchers report statistically significant predictive accuracy between a low handgrip and the performance of everyday tasks and chores such as climbing stairs, getting dressed, and rising from a chair.

    Men, more than women, according to the authors, develop a steeper decline in handgrip strength when reaching the age of 60 and above, coupled with a higher relevant risk threshold for mortality.

    The authors’ study makes a valuable contribution to the literature, with several major strengths, namely their large representative sample drawn from 12 European countries.

    Their longitudinal design, they wire, “significantly bolsters our confidence in the predictive efficacy of the CT ratio for low HGS. The standardized SHARE questionnaire, administered consistently across multiple European settings, ensured data harmonization and enhanced the study’s reliability.”

    Their findings, the authors maintain, have clinical and policy implications that can help medical professionals to timely and accurately identify geriatric adults at risk of developing low handgrip strength.

    They note, “Our findings have clinical and policy implications, potentially aiding healthcare providers and policymakers in identifying older adults with muscle weakness.”

    LEON BARKHO
    University Of Sharjah
    +971 50 165 4376
    email us here

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  • INIU to Launch All-New Pocket Rocket P50 on July 7,

    INIU to Launch All-New Pocket Rocket P50 on July 7,

    Los Angeles, CA, July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    Well-known global portable charging brand INIU has officially launched the all-new, upgraded Pocket Rocket P50 Power Bank on July 7, 2025. Touted as “the world’s smallest 10,000mAh 45W fast-charging power bank,” the P50 redefines portability and performance.

    Measuring just 3.3×2.0×1.0in/ 8.3×5.2×2.6cm and weighing only 5.6oz / 160±10g—roughly the size of two stacked macarons—the Pocket Rocket P50 slips easily into a pocket, handbag, or suitcase corner while delivering powerful output.With 45W fast charging, it powers your phone from low battery to 73% in just 25 minutes.The device also fully recharges in just two hours and can power up to three devices simultaneously, meeting modern demand for fast, multi-device charging on the go.

    Packed with cutting-edge tech, the P50 features an upgraded TinyCell Pro battery and the industry’s first multi-tab cell for better heat control and faster, more efficient charging. A high-performance NVIDIA-grade inductor boosts battery life and shrinks overall size—making the power bank lighter and more compact. The ultra-thin 0.5mm Genius display keeps users informed with real-time power. With 18 layers of safety protection, it safeguards your device from overheating, overcharging, and other common risks.

    In addition to performance, the P50 excels in energy efficiency and sustainability. Its Tinycell Pro and precision components minimize energy waste and extend lifespan, reducing replacements and electronic waste. The detachable fast-charging cable passed over 11,000 bend tests, and its integrated E-Marker chip ensures stability, wide compatibility, and support for Samsung Super Fast Charge 2.0—ready to use anytime.

    Since its founding in 2014, INIU has focused on delivering high-quality portable power solutions and has served over 40 million users across 174 countries and regions. The company has received international accolades such as the iF Design Award, Red Dot Award, and CES Innovation Award. The new P50 is a technological breakthrough and a further step in INIU’s mission to provide reliable energy for users and families worldwide.

    As mobile device usage grows, users demand more from their charging gear in terms of performance, portability, and safety. The debut of the Pocket Rocket P50 directly responds to this trend and is set to spark a new global wave in the fast-charging portable power revolution.

    Media Contact:
    INIU
    Sophie Kang
    contact@iniu.shop

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  • KU Researchers Issue Call in Lancet Oncology to Prioritize Head and Neck Cancer Nutrition Research and Therapies

    KU Researchers Issue Call in Lancet Oncology to Prioritize Head and Neck Cancer Nutrition Research and Therapies

    BYLINE: Kristi Birch

    Newswise — Proper nutrition is important for people diagnosed with cancer, both to help them feel better and to assist them in maintaining their strength during treatment and its side effects. But cancer and its treatment can affect both a person’s ability and desire to eat, making it hard to get enough calories and nutrients. This is especially true for people who have been diagnosed with some type of head and neck cancer, malignancies that arise predominantly in the mouth, throat and voice box.

    “The tumor itself can lead to symptoms and side effects like difficulty swallowing and difficulty chewing,” said Anna Arthur, Ph.D., MPH, associate professor of dietetics and nutrition at the University of Kansas School of Health Professions and a member of The University of Kansas Cancer Center. “On top of that, surgical resections of the tumor, radiation and chemotherapies can lead to severe symptoms and side effects — including taste changes, dry mouth, nausea, gastrointestinal disturbances and painful ulceration of the membranes in the mouth and throat, all of which severely compromise the ability of these patients to get the nutrition they need.”

    Last month, Arthur, along with a multidisciplinary team of researchers and clinicians at KU Medical Center and the Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute in Florida, published an article in Lancet Oncology issuing a call for nutrition-related head and neck cancer research and presenting a roadmap that identifies gaps and strategies to improve care.

    Research on nutrition therapy for head and neck cancers, which account for 4% of all cancers in the United States, lags behind that of other types of cancer. (Research overall for head and neck cancer receives the second lowest amount of funding from the National Institutes of Health.) Yet the prevalence of malnutrition in people with head and neck cancer is among the highest of all the cancer types, ranging from roughly one-quarter to three-quarters of these patients, depending on the type and severity of the malignancy and the treatment. Insufficient nutrition has been associated with increased mortality and decreased tolerance to cancer therapy in head and neck cancer patients.

    “Even though we know that these patients experience really severe nutritional deficits before, during and even long-term after their treatment, we don’t have a huge evidence base to define exactly what types of nutrition interventions are needed, and how those interventions should be timed, to prevent and manage the nutritional issues that they face,” said Arthur. “And we know from working with these patients clinically that they really need nutrition counseling because of where the tumor is located and the symptoms and side effects that they experience due to the treatment.”

    Dietitians can help these patients deal with the side effects of the disease and its treatment by, for example, advising them on modifying their food choices if they have trouble swallowing, providing recipes for liquid diets and even helping them select foods high in protein and calories so they don’t have to eat as much.

    But access to registered dietitians is drastically inadequate for these patients, Arthur noted. She cited a report from the Oncology Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics that showed the ratio of dietitian to cancer patient in U.S. cancer centers is far below what is needed to provide care: one for every 2,308 patients. Medical nutrition therapy services are typically not covered by insurance, so many patients do not get the care they need from a registered dietitian.

    “We think the combination of more research with better policies and better insurance coverage would ultimately lead to not only better nutritional outcomes, but better survival and better quality of life,” Arthur said.

    In addition to calling for more research funding opportunities, the article proposes eight action items to increase research and improve head and neck cancer outcomes. These include:  

    • Improving access to medical nutrition therapy provided by registered dietitians
    • Establishing medical nutrition therapy reimbursement policies  
    • Addressing nutrition care needs for long-term survivors
    • Establishing a consensus on criteria for feeding tubes and when they should be placed
    • Providing nutrition literacy to people who have been diagnosed with head and neck cancer
    • Increasing access to psychological screenings and services
    • Addressing gaps in speech-language pathology care, which can help patients with difficulties swallowing and speaking
    • Promoting active participation in exercise programming


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  • Efficacy of Upfront Panitumumab Plus Intensified Chemo Falls Short in Liver-Limited, Unresectable mCRC

    Efficacy of Upfront Panitumumab Plus Intensified Chemo Falls Short in Liver-Limited, Unresectable mCRC

    Panitumumab plus FOLFIRINOX or mFOLFOX6 in mCRC

    | Image Credit: © Ashling Wahner & MJH Life Sciences Using AI

    Panitumumab (Vectibix) combined with FOLFIRINOX (leucovorin, fluorouracil, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin) or modified FOLFOX6 (mFOLFOX6; leucovorin, fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin) did not elicit clinically meaningful responses in previously untreated patients with liver-limited, RAS/BRAF wild-type unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), failing to meet the primary end point of the phase 2 PANIRINOX-UCGI28 trial (NCT02980510; EudraCT 2016-001490-33), data from which were presented at the 2025 ESMO Gastrointestinal Cancers Congress.1

    In the per-protocol population, among patients with liver-limited disease who received panitumumab plus FOLFIRINOX (n = 66), the complete response (CR) rate was 27.3% (95% CI, 17.0%-39.6%), the overall response rate (ORR) was 90.9%, and the early tumor shrinkage rate was 86.4%. The median depth of response was –78.9% (Q1-Q3, –100% to –58.2%), and the R0 resection rate was 34.8%.

    Among patients with liver-limited disease who received panitumumab plus mFOLFOX6 (n = 34), the CR rate was 23.5% (95% CI, 10.7%-41.2%), the ORR was 91.2%, and the early tumor shrinkage rate was 76.5%. The median depth of response was –72.4% (Q1-Q3, –100% to –44.6%), and the R0 resection rate was 38.2%.

    “Given that and the rest of our results, we can’t support the use of an intensified chemotherapy backbone in combination with anti-EGFR [therapy] in this setting, regardless of the disease extension,” Thibault Mazard, MD, PhD, stated in the presentation.

    Mazard is a medical oncologist specializing in gastrointestinal and head and neck cancer at the Institut du Cancer de Montpellier Val d’Aurelle in France.

    Trial Design

    The multicenter, open-label, noncomparative, randomized PANIRINOX-UCGI28 trial enrolled patients with unresectable mCRC who were deemed to have curative-intent disease. Patients needed to be previously untreated except for fluoropyrimidine in the adjuvant setting, be 18 to 75 years of age, have an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1, and have RAS/BRAF V600E wild-type disease according to Intplex circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis.

    “PANIRINOX is the first interventional study [that] used [prospective] ctDNA analysis to assess patient eligibility for anti-EGFR treatment before first line,” Mazard noted.

    Stratum 1 (n = 108) included patients with liver-limited disease. Stratum 2 (n = 111) included those with non–liver-limited disease. Patients in each stratum were randomly assigned 2:1 to receive FOLFIRINOX plus panitumumab for a maximum of 12 cycles (arms A) or mFOLFOX6 plus panitumumab for a maximum of 12 cycles (arms B).

    The primary end point was CR rate, defined as the complete disappearance of metastatic lesions per RECIST 1.1 criteria and CEA level normalization (if applicable) after a maximum of 12 cycles of chemotherapy. Each CR needed to be confirmed and centrally reviewed. CR could be achieved with chemotherapy or a multimodal approach consisting of methods such as surgical resection, radiofrequency, cryoablation, and radiation therapy.

    Results from stratum 2 were initially presented at the 2023 ESMO Congress.

    Baseline Characteristics

    From October 2017 to August 2023, 574 patients were assessed for eligibility across 22 centers. In total, 96.7% of patients had blood samples complying with quality control criteria, and 46.3% of patients had RAS/BRAF V600E–mutated disease. Accordingly, 219 patients were randomly assigned and selected for either stratum.

    In the intention-to-treat (ITT) population of stratum 1, the median age was 60 years (range, 31-75) in arm A (n = 74) and 60 years (range, 34-73) in arm B (n = 34). Most patients in both arms were male (64% vs 74%), had primary left-sided tumors (85% vs 85%), and had synchronous metastases (94% vs 96%). Furthermore, 64% and 47% of patients in each respective arm had an ECOG performance status of 0.

    Across both arms in the ITT population of stratum 2, the median age was 63 years (range, 32-80). Most patients were male (60%), had an ECOG performance status of 0 (57%), had primary left-sided tumors (78%), had synchronous metastases (86%), and had more than 1 Nb metastatic site (79%). Additionally, liver, lung, and peritoneal involvement was present in 68%, 56%, and 23% of patients, respectively.

    Notably, across both strata, similar characteristics were reported in the per-protocol population.

    Additional Efficacy Findings

    “In stratum 1, the progression-free survival [PFS] and overall survival [OS] were superimposable between the arms,” Mazard explained. “In stratum 2, it was the same tendency for PFS, but when you look at the OS curves, the experimental arm [appeared] to do better.”

    At a median follow-up of longer than 35 months, in the per-protocol population of stratum 1, the median PFS was 10.7 months (95% CI, 9.7-12.7) in arm A and 11.2 months (95% CI, 9.3-12.6) in arm B (HR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.55-1.34; log-rank P = .5127). In the per-protocol population of stratum 2, the median PFS was 9.1 months (95% CI, 8.1-11.7) in arm A and 9.0 months (95% CI, 7.5-11.9) in arm B (HR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.61-1.57; log-rank P = .9312).

    Regarding OS, in the per-protocol population of stratum 1, the median OS was not reached (NR; 95% CI, 33.7 months-NR) in arm A and NR (95% CI, 28.2 months-NR) in arm B (HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.49-1.94; log-rank P = .9341). In the per-protocol population of stratum 2, the median OS was 34.7 months (95% CI, 26.4-NR) in arm A and 25.9 months (95% CI, 17.8-NR) in arm B (HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.39-1.30; log-rank P = .2639).

    Safety Data

    The most commonly observed grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse effects in arms A vs B, respectively, were diarrhea (34% vs 12%), peripheral neuropathy (19% vs 9%), and skin toxicities (16% vs 22%).

    ctDNA Analysis Findings

    Investigators performed a ctDNA analysis that included treated patients from both arms of both strata (n = 216) and found no differences in response according to mutation allele frequency (MAF) vs total ctDNA concentration. At baseline, 138 patients were RAS/BRAF V600E wild-type. In this population, the CR rate was 19.6% (95% CI, 13.3%-27.2%), and the ORR was 79.7% (95% CI, 72.0%-86.1%). Additionally, 78 patients had a RAS/BRAF MAF of 0.5% or lower. In this population, the CR rate was 12.8% (95% CI, 6.3%-22.3%), and the ORR was 87.2% (95% CI, 77.7%-93.7%).

    Furthermore, many patients had RAS/BRAF wild-type ctDNA at end of treatment (EOT). After a median of 189 days (range, 58-455) of treatment, among evaluable patients who had RAS/BRAF wild-type disease at baseline (n = 82), 78% had persistent wild-type disease, and 22% had RAS/BRAF-mutated disease. Among evaluable patients who had a RAS/BRAF MAF of 0.5% or lower (n = 50), 16% and 84% had RAS/BRAF-persistent and wild-type disease, respectively.

    “Our findings…confirm the relevance of using ctDNA analysis to molecularly select patients before first-line [therapy], even if the identification of RAS or BRAF MAF with our method may not impact treatment activity.”

    Disclosures: Mazard reported serving on advisory boards for Pierre Fabre, MSD, Servier, and Takeda; serving as an invited speaker for Pierre Fabre, Servier, and Astra Zeneca; participating in a writing engagement with Galapagos; serving as a coordinating principal investigator for Amgen; receiving travel grants from Pierre Fabre, Merck, Serono, Sanofi, MSD, Takeda, and Servier; and serving in an advisory role for Inca.

    Reference

    1. Mazard T, Ghiringhelli F, Nguyen L, et al. Panitumumab (P) + FOLFIRINOX or mFOLFOX6 in unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients (pts) with RAS/BRAF wild-type (WT) tumor status from circulating DNA (cirDNA): final results of the randomised phase II PANIRINOX-UCGI28 study. Presented at: 2025 ESMO Gastrointestinal Cancers Congress; July 2-5, 2025; Barcelona, Spain. Abstract 7MO.

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  • Iran receives Chinese surface-to-air missile batteries after Israel ceasefire deal – Middle East Eye

    1. Iran receives Chinese surface-to-air missile batteries after Israel ceasefire deal  Middle East Eye
    2. China’s HQ-9B Challenges Russia’s Middle East Air Defense Market Share  Forbes
    3. Willing to share…: China as Iran eyes its ‘Vigorous Dragon’ jets after drubbing  India Today
    4. China willing to sharing defense devt achievements with friendly countries, contributing to peace, stability, says MND spokesperson on reports of J-10 procurement talks  Global Times
    5. Will China Become Iran’s Major Defense Partner?  The Diplomat – Asia-Pacific Current Affairs Magazine

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  • Exxon Mobil signals fall in second-quarter upstream profit in regulatory filing – Reuters

    1. Exxon Mobil signals fall in second-quarter upstream profit in regulatory filing  Reuters
    2. Exxon signals lower oil, gas prices could hit second-quarter profit  MarketScreener
    3. ExxonMobil stock maintains Neutral rating at Mizuho ahead of Q2 earnings  Investing.com India
    4. Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) Upgraded at Piper Sandler  MarketBeat
    5. ExxonMobil tipped to beat EPS estimates for Q2 despite oil price drag, analysts say  Proactive financial news

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  • Grigor Dimitrov retires while leading world number one Jannik Sinner, who helps him off court

    Grigor Dimitrov retires while leading world number one Jannik Sinner, who helps him off court

    Upon seeing the three-time major semi-finalist on the floor, Sinner crossed the net to check on him and offer support. Dimitrov was tended to by an on-court doctor, first on the grass before retreating to his seat where he complained about his pectoral muscle.

    When Dimitrov returned to the court in clear pain, he knew he had to retire. He supported his arm to reach up and shake the umpire’s hands before thanking the fans, greeted by a standing ovation and monumental cheer from a sympathetic crowd.

    Sinner accompanied the world No. 21 off court, hoisting his bags over his own shoulder to help Dimitrov into the locker room. It is a sorry end to the Bulgarian’s Championships, his third consecutive tournament reaching the fourth round.

    For world number one Sinner, he will take on top 10 player Ben Shelton in the quarter-finals on Wednesday, 9 July.

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  • Domestic season begins on Aug 15

    Domestic season begins on Aug 15


    LAHORE:

    The Pakistan Cricket Board today announces the domestic cricket calendar for the 2025-26 season, with an emphasis on increased competitiveness, highlighted by an eight-team Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (first-class) tournament.

    The domestic season will commence on 15 August with the 12-team Hanif Mohammad Trophy (non-first-class) being staged in Karachi, Multan, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan. The teams are divided into two pools, with 31 matches scheduled in the four-day tournament. The top two sides will qualify for this season’s premier first-class competition – Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

    The 12 regional sides participating in the Hanif Mohammad Trophy are the same teams that competed in last season’s Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. Based on last season’s standings, these are: Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, FATA, Lahore Region Blues, Hyderabad, Karachi Region Blues, Karachi Region Whites, Multan, Quetta, D.M Jamali, AJK and Larkana.

    The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy will feature Lahore Region Whites, Sialkot, Peshawar, Islamabad, Abbottabad, Bahawalpur and the two qualifying teams. The tournament is set to begin on 22 September and will comprise 29 matches in a single-league format, with the final scheduled from 3 to 7 November. Matches will be held at four venues across Islamabad and Rawalpindi, with further details to be announced in due course.

    To further enhance competitiveness, a qualifying stage has also been introduced for the National T20. 10 teams – Abbottabad, Multan, Quetta, Bahawalpur, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, FATA, Larkana, D.M. Jamali, and AJK will compete in the qualifier round. These teams will be divided into two pools, with the top two sides progressing to the National T20 (Super 10) tournament, which will be held in Faisalabad from 1 to 12 March.

    The eight teams automatically qualified for the Super 10 stage are: Karachi Region Whites, Lahore Region Whites, Peshawar, Karachi Region Blues, Sialkot, Islamabad and Faisalabad.

    Four departmental tournaments – President’s Trophy (four-day, first-class), President’s Cup (One-Day), President’s Trophy Grade II and President’s Trophy Grade III will also feature in this domestic season. PCB Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmed Syed: “We are pleased to unveil a domestic structure that places merit, opportunity and competitiveness at its core. The 2025-26 season has been designed to provide a clear pathway for teams and players to progress based on performance, not reputation.

    “Introducing a qualifier for both the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and the National T20 ensures that every match in our domestic calendar carries significant weight. This not only raises the standard of competition but also fosters a high-performance culture across all formats.

    “The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy will now feature the most in-form and deserving teams, while the Hanif Mohammad Trophy gives 12 regions a meaningful chance to stake their claim. Similarly, the Super 10 format of the National T20 is a step towards creating more high-intensity, quality cricket.

    “Our aim is to reward performance and create a vibrant environment where players and teams are constantly challenged. This structure lays the foundation for a long-term growth and helps us prepare future stars for the demands of international cricket.”

    Director – Domestic Cricket Operations Abdullah Khurram Niazi: “The 2025-26 domestic season reflects our commitment to building a competitive and inclusive structure that nurtures talent at every level, from grassroots to senior cricket. By aligning our tournaments across age-group and senior formats, we are creating a clear development pathway for young cricketers.

    “We have placed equal emphasis on both regional and departmental cricket. The inclusion of a first-class and a one-day tournament exclusively for departments, along with Grade II and Grade III departmental competitions, ensures departments remain a vital pillar of our domestic cricket system.

    “We are looking forward to U15, U17 and U19 age-group tournaments this season. These competitions will serve as vital stepping stones for young talent, helping us identify and groom future national stars early in their careers.

    “Also, the top performers of the Hanif Mohammad Trophy will not only be recognised as guest players by the top regions in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, but they will also be considered for domestic contracts, a move aimed at incentivising excellence.”

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