Cricket Associations Challenge (Pakistan) 2022/23

The Cricket Associations Challenge is a List A (50-over) domestic cricket tournament in Pakistan. Organized by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), it was introduced as part of a major domestic restructuring unveiled in 2019. This initiative aimed to create a clearer pathway for players moving from regional setups into First XI squads. The competition specifically features the Second XI teams of six regional Cricket Associations: Southern Punjab, Northern, Central Punjab, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh. It sits below the First XI competitions, such as the Pakistan Cup and the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, serving as a developmental platform where players compete for selection rather than for team promotion. There is no promotion or relegation of teams; the structure is fixed based on the regional associations. The format typically involves a round-robin league stage where each of the six teams plays every other team once, followed by a final match. The first official edition under this specific name was held in the 2021–22 season, replacing previous Second XI structures like the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2nd XI. In the 2021–22 season, Sindh 2nd XI won the title, defeating Northern 2nd XI in the final. Central Punjab 2nd XI claimed the championship in the subsequent 2022–23 campaign, beating Balochistan 2nd XI in the deciding match. The tournament does not appear to have a permanent corporate sponsor in its official title, usually being referred to simply as the Cricket Associations Challenge or PCB Cricket Associations Challenge. It is distinct from the Cricket Associations T20 (Twenty20 format) and the Cricket Associations Championship (First-Class/Multi-day format), which are the other two components of the PCB's Second XI domestic structure introduced in the same restructuring. As of the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons, the tournament does not appear to be active under this specific name, with the PCB shifting focus to the Pakistan Cup Second XI and National T20 Cup structures.