Pakistan Champions have withdrawn from the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2026, with their campaign in the UAE-based tournament ending before it began after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) did not issue the required No-Objection Certificates to the players.
The team's scheduled opening match against Bangladesh Champions in Sharjah did not go ahead, with the league initially announcing the postponement for "technical reasons." The WCL later said Pakistan Champions would not be participating in season three due to "unforeseen circumstances," and the tournament will continue with six teams.
Competing versions of why
According to sources quoted by NDTV Sports, the PCB did agree to grant NOCs to the players but sought a written apology from the Indian team over its actions last season — a demand the WCL organisers rejected. Sources also said the board wanted assurances that organisers would have no objection if Indian players chose not to participate. Those demands could not be independently verified, and the PCB has not publicly confirmed them.
The Express Tribune reported that Pakistan Champions owner Kamil Khan had hoped for a change in the board's decision and that the players had applied for NOCs through the prescribed procedure. Captain Shahid Afridi and former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed did not travel to the UAE, though several other players had already arrived.
A dispute with history
The current edition runs from October 3 to October 18 in the UAE. Last season, India Champions twice declined to take the field against Pakistan Champions — in the group stage and again in the semi-final — citing geopolitical tensions and public sentiment after the Pahalgam terror attack, which sent Pakistan directly to the final, where they lost to South Africa.
The much-anticipated India-Pakistan legends clash was scheduled for October 10 in Dubai.
Sources:
- Pakistan Team Forced To Withdraw From Legends Tournament, Wanted Indian Players To Issue Apology: Sources
- Pakistan Champions pull out of World Championship of Legends
- Why was Pakistan Champions vs Bangladesh Champions game in World Championship of Legends 2026 postponed?
The team's scheduled opening match against Bangladesh Champions in Sharjah did not go ahead, with the league initially announcing the postponement for "technical reasons." The WCL later said Pakistan Champions would not be participating in season three due to "unforeseen circumstances," and the tournament will continue with six teams.
Competing versions of why
According to sources quoted by NDTV Sports, the PCB did agree to grant NOCs to the players but sought a written apology from the Indian team over its actions last season — a demand the WCL organisers rejected. Sources also said the board wanted assurances that organisers would have no objection if Indian players chose not to participate. Those demands could not be independently verified, and the PCB has not publicly confirmed them.
The Express Tribune reported that Pakistan Champions owner Kamil Khan had hoped for a change in the board's decision and that the players had applied for NOCs through the prescribed procedure. Captain Shahid Afridi and former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed did not travel to the UAE, though several other players had already arrived.
A dispute with history
The current edition runs from October 3 to October 18 in the UAE. Last season, India Champions twice declined to take the field against Pakistan Champions — in the group stage and again in the semi-final — citing geopolitical tensions and public sentiment after the Pahalgam terror attack, which sent Pakistan directly to the final, where they lost to South Africa.
The much-anticipated India-Pakistan legends clash was scheduled for October 10 in Dubai.
Sources:
- Pakistan Team Forced To Withdraw From Legends Tournament, Wanted Indian Players To Issue Apology: Sources
- Pakistan Champions pull out of World Championship of Legends
- Why was Pakistan Champions vs Bangladesh Champions game in World Championship of Legends 2026 postponed?
