2016–17 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy
The 2016–17 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy was the 59th edition of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan's domestic first-class cricket competition. It was contested by 16 teams representing eight regional associations and eight departments, and ran between 1 October and 15 December 2016.
| Dates | 1 October 2016 – 15 December 2016 |
|---|---|
| Administrator(s) | Pakistan Cricket Board |
| Cricket format | First-class |
| Tournament format(s) | Two round-robin group stages and final |
| Host(s) | Pakistan |
| Champions | WAPDA (1st title) |
| Participants | 16 |
| Matches | 69 |
| Most runs | Kamran Akmal (1035) |
| Most wickets | Mohammad Abbas (71) |
| Official website | www.pcb.com.pk |
The format of the competition remained the same as the previous season, with two round-robin group stages and a final. The regions and departments were divided evenly between the two groups for the preliminary group stage, with the four top teams in each advancing to a "Super Eight" group stage; the top team in each of the Super Eight groups contested the final. Ten of the matches, including the two Super Eight fixtures and the final, were played as day/night games, in preparation for Pakistan's tour to Australia in December 2016.
Returning to first-class cricket were Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and a second Karachi team (Blues) having gained promotion from the Patron's Trophy and Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Grade II competitions respectively; they replaced Port Qasim Authority and Hyderabad, which were relegated at the end of 2015–16. Neither PIA nor Karachi Blues were able to retain their first-class status as both were relegated at the end of the season.
The final was contested between Habib Bank Limited and Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA). The match finished in a draw, with WAPDA declared as the winners of the tournament, because of a first-innings lead. This was WAPDA's first title in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. Salman Butt was the man of the match in the final after scoring a century in both innings.