The final of the President’s Trophy Grade-I 2026/27 between State Bank of Pakistan and Markhor IT Solutions has been pushed back by two days after yet another change of venue, with the match now expected to run from October 27 to 31 at the Lahore Gymkhana Ground instead of the originally planned October 25 to 29. The latest switch is the second time the venue has been altered, and it continues a disrupted build-up to a final that was first scheduled to be played at the State Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex in Karachi before being moved to the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground. According to reports carried by Geo Super, the Pakistan Cricket Board has still not formally announced the revised venue and dates, leaving the change resting on sources rather than an official statement for now.
The repeated moves have already taken a practical toll on the State Bank side, which had travelled from Islamabad to Karachi for the final only to be sent back to Lahore when the venue was changed the first time. That kind of upheaval is the last thing a team wants before a showpiece match, with travel plans, preparation and rest all thrown out of order, and the latest move to Lahore Gymkhana means both finalists must adjust once again before a ball is bowled. For a domestic final that should be a celebration of the season’s best cricket, the shifting arrangements have instead become the story in the days leading up to it.
State Bank earned their place in the final by finishing top of the standings with 107 points from seven matches, remaining unbeaten across the tournament with two wins and five draws. Their last group outing, against Kingsmen Academy at the National Cricket Ground in Islamabad, underlined that resilience, as they were set 295 runs to win on the final day and reached 208 for three in 57 overs, with opener Hasan Raza carrying his bat through an unbeaten century, before the match ended in a draw. Markhor IT Solutions, meanwhile, secured second place with 96 points from their seven matches, recording two wins, one defeat and four draws, and they wrapped up their own final-round fixture in style with a six-wicket victory over Pakistan Television completed inside three days.
With both sides arriving in strong form, the final itself promises a competitive contest once the off-field uncertainty is settled, and the hope now will be that the Lahore Gymkhana Ground can provide a stable stage for the five days of play from October 27. The two teams have earned the right to contest the trophy on merit, and a settled venue and a clear official announcement would give the players and supporters the certainty the occasion deserves. Until the board confirms the revised schedule formally, however, the final remains a fixture in flux, with its start date and ground having changed twice before it has even begun.
