SportsPosted at: Oct 5 2026 8:37PM


Pak Champions forced out of WCL as PCB refuses player NOCs

New Delhi, Oct 5 (UNI) The long-running fallout between the Pakistan Cricket Board and the World Championship of Legends has claimed its latest casualty, with Pakistan Champions withdrawing from the third season of the tournament after the PCB refused to issue NOCs to its players.
The withdrawal ends weeks of uncertainty over Pakistan's participation and effectively keeps one of the tournament's marquee teams out of the ongoing competition.
Pakistan Champions owner Kamil Khan made repeated efforts to persuade the PCB to reconsider its decision, but the board stood firm, leaving the team with no option but to pull out.
"Pakistan Champions regret to confirm that the team will not be able to participate in the ongoing World Championship of Legends (WCL), following the Pakistan Cricket Board's decision to uphold its refusal to issue the required NOC," the team said in a statement.
"We respect PCB's authority and its decision, while naturally being disappointed that our players will not have the opportunity to represent Pakistan Champions at this global gathering of cricketing legends," it said.
The PCB's refusal is rooted in the bitter controversy surrounding last year's WCL, when India Champions declined to play Pakistan Champions in both the league stage and semi-final amid heightened tensions between the two countries.
The league match was cancelled and both sides received a point, while India's refusal to play the semi-final resulted in Pakistan advancing to the final without taking the field.
The controversy prompted the PCB to announce in August 2025 that Pakistan players would not participate in future editions of the WCL. The board had accused the tournament organisers of bias, political interference and double standards.
Pakistan nevertheless reached the 2025 final, where they lost to South Africa Champions by nine wickets.
The unresolved dispute spilled into the 2026 edition, with the PCB refusing to soften its position despite efforts from the Pakistan Champions management to secure clearances for its former internationals.
Pakistan's absence had already begun disrupting the tournament schedule. Their opening match against Bangladesh Champions, scheduled for October 3, was postponed for "technical reasons", while the October 6 fixture against Australia Champions was subsequently cancelled.
The withdrawal also deprives the tournament of some of Pakistan's biggest former stars, including captain Shahid Afridi, at a time when the WCL is seeking to build its profile around retired international players.
UNI BDN
Tags: #Pak Champions forced out of WCL as PCB refuses player NOCs
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