KARACHI: The Pakistan Tapeball Championship 2026 is gathering serious momentum as it rolls into its second leg, with Karachi set to host a high-stakes tournament carrying a prize pool of PKR 15 million (US$54,000) — a milestone that underscores the rapidly growing stature of organised street cricket in Pakistan. The winner will walk away with PKR 10 million (US$36,000).

Building on the overwhelming success of the championship’s inaugural leg in Multan last month, the second edition of the four-event annual series will be held at the prestigious DHA Sports Club (Moin Khan Academy) from 12 to 17 May. The championship’s remaining two legs are scheduled to take place in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) in the second half of the year, further cementing the tournament’s ambition to represent cricket talent from every corner of the country.

Six franchises will go head-to-head in a single-league format, with all matches played under lights in a six-overs-a-side contest that promises high-octane entertainment and drama for fans, and a career-defining stage for players who have long thrived in the streets and gullies of Pakistan.

In a nod to the professional cricket leagues that have captivated global audiences, the tournament will feature a player auction to be held in Lahore on 4 May. Team owners will select from two pools of players — one comprising cricketers from Sindh, and the other featuring talent from outside the province — to finalise their 15-player squads.

Each franchise will be permitted to include up to three players from outside Sindh, ensuring a blend of local pride and national representation.

Taimoor Mirza will captain Wasif Sports Karachi, arriving with the confidence of a champion having led his side to glory in Multan last month. Bahadur Left will skipper Sherwani Sports Karachi, Fahad Mian Channu will lead Saqib Sports Karachi and Asad Shah will captain Moni Sports Karachi. Chota Vicky will skipper TZ Sports Karachi, while Khurram Chakwal will lead Hyderabad’s Noor Sports.

Spectator entry at the DHA Sports Club will be completely free of charge, while all matches will also be broadcast live on the Grassroots Cricket YouTube channel, bringing the action to a national — and potentially global — audience and reflecting the organisers’ commitment to elevating tapeball cricket’s visibility.

The Pakistan Tapeball Championship is the brainchild of Ali Khan Tareen, former owner of the Multan Sultans, who conceived the initiative to provide street cricketers with a structured, professional pathway to showcase their talent.

For decades, tapeball cricket has been the heartbeat of Pakistan’s cricketing culture — played in narrow lanes, open fields, and crowded neighbourhoods across the country. Yet, despite producing players of remarkable skill and creativity, this form of the game has historically lacked formal recognition or reward.

The championship seeks to change that. By bringing the same level of organisation, promotion, and fanfare typically associated with franchise cricket, the tournament is not only rewarding exceptional talent but also legitimising and amplifying a sporting tradition that millions of Pakistanis hold dear.

With four events spanning the country’s major regions, the 2026 championship has the potential to be a landmark moment in the story of Pakistan’s street cricket — and the players who have made it their own.