Pakistan champions exit 2026 World Championship of Legends after 2025 outage
The Pakistani champions pulled out of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) Season 3 after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed its decision to deny No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) to the team’s players. The withdrawal ends weeks of uncertainty over Pakistan’s participation in the tournament, with the team unable to field its players despite efforts to resolve the issue.
According to Geo Super, Pakistan Champions owner Kamil Khan has formally asked the PCB to reconsider its decision and remain involved in discussions about the team’s participation. However, the board maintained its position and prevented former Pakistan stars from representing the side in the ongoing competition. According to reports, the PCB also sought terms related to last year’s controversy, which was not accepted by the WCL management.
“Pakistan Champions regret to confirm that the team will not be able to participate in the ongoing World Cup of Legends (WCL), after the Pakistan Cricket Board decided to confirm its refusal to issue the required NOC,” the team said in a statement.
“We respect the authority of the PCB and its decision, but we are of course disappointed that our players will not get the opportunity to represent the Pakistani champions at this global gathering of cricket legends.
“We sincerely thank our players, fans and supporters for their patience, understanding and continued support.”
Pakistan were scheduled to play champions Bangladesh in their opening match on 3 October, but the match was postponed due to “technical reasons”. Their match against the Australia Champions, scheduled for October 6, has also been cancelled.
WHAT HAPPENED AT WCL 2025?
The dispute dates back to the previous edition of the WCL in July-August 2025, when India Champions refused to play Pakistan Champions in their scheduled group stage match amid heightened political tensions between India and Pakistan. The match was abandoned and both teams were awarded a point.
Controversy returned in the semi-finals. The Indian Champions once again refused to play against Pakistan, resulting in the cancellation of the semi-final and Pakistan advancing directly to the final. The decision comes amid tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s wider stance on sporting clashes with Pakistan.
The PCB reacted strongly to the events. At its August 2025 board meeting, it announced a blanket ban on Pakistan’s future participation in the WCL, accusing the organizers of bias, hypocrisy and political interference. The board objected in particular to the handling of forfeited matches and what it described as a double standard.
The Pakistani champions eventually reached the final in 2025 after India’s semi-final exit but lost to South Africa Champions by nine wickets.
This fallout continued to hang over the 2026 edition. Despite efforts by the Pakistan Champions management to secure the necessary clearance, the PCB’s position remained unchanged and the team was left without several former international stars.
The absence is a major blow to the tournament, with the Pakistan champions featuring some of the country’s most famous former players, including captain Shahid Afridi. The team was also absent from the pre-tournament trophy unveiling ceremony.
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