Pakistan Champions’ World Championship of Legends (WCL) campaign is over without the team taking the field after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) declined to provide the No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) needed by its players.
Their opening game against Bangladesh Champions in Sharjah was unable to proceed because the Pakistani players did not have the necessary clearance, according to a report by Express Tribune’s Saleem Khaliq. Although some members of the squad had already made the journey to the UAE, Shahid Afridi and Sarfaraz Ahmed remained away from Dubai.
Previous India withdrawals shape PCB position
Behind the PCB’s decision was the possibility of another dispute surrounding a Pakistan-India game at the WCL.
During the previous edition, India Champions pulled out of two matches involving Pakistan Champions, with Shikhar Dhawan playing a prominent role in the decision. The tournament had again placed the two sides on the same schedule this year, setting up a Dubai encounter for October 10.
That prospect presented officials with a potential repeat of last year’s circumstances. There were concerns that Pakistan’s former internationals could receive permission and prepare for the contest, only for their Indian counterparts to withdraw from the game. The PCB ultimately chose not to approve the NOC applications.
India Champions’ playing group for this edition includes Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan and Harbhajan Singh.
Attempts to secure participation fall short
Pakistan Champions’ ownership pursued another route that could have kept the side in the WCL, proposing a change to the team’s name. The idea was rejected.
Efforts by influential figures to have the PCB reconsider its position also failed to produce a different outcome, leaving the ownership waiting on the board as the competition got underway.
Pakistan Champions Owner Kamil Khan said, as quoted by the Express Tribune: “We could not play the match against Bangladesh, but we still hope that the PCB will reconsider its decision. The players submitted their applications according to the prescribed procedure, and we are still waiting for a positive decision.”
Khan also indicated that the team would respect the authority of Pakistan’s governing body and would not act contrary to its decision.
WCL continues with Pakistan absent
Pakistan’s removal leaves the WCL proceeding with Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, South Africa and West Indies. The UAE tournament runs from October 3 through October 18.
Action began in Sharjah with India Champions recording a 46-run win against Australia Champions. Yuvraj Singh made 71 from 44 balls, while Dhawal Kulkarni collected four wickets and Mohit Sharma took three.
The October 10 contest between Pakistan Champions and India Champions will no longer take place following Pakistan’s exit from the competition.
