Pakistan Champions have officially withdrawn from the 2026 World Championship of Legends (WCL) after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) maintained its refusal to issue the required No-Objection Certificate (NOC), removing the team from the third edition of the veterans’ tournament.
According to a report by journalist Abhishek Tripathi, the PCB had sought a written apology from Indian players who did not take the field against Pakistan Champions in 2025, along with a handshake between the two sides. The WCL management accepted the commercial conditions involved in discussions but rejected the apology and handshake requirements.
The withdrawal brings an end to uncertainty surrounding Pakistan Champions’ involvement in this year’s competition and means the scheduled India Champions-Pakistan Champions fixture on October 10 will not take place.
Pakistan Champions confirm WCL withdrawal
The team confirmed its exit after attempts to secure clearance from the PCB failed to produce the NOC required for participation.
Pakistan Champions said in an official statement that “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.”
Pakistan Champions owner Kamil Khan had asked the PCB to reconsider its position, but the board did not reverse its decision.
Addressing the impact on the team and its players, Pakistan Champions added in the same statement that “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. We sincerely thank our players, supporters and fans for their patience, understanding and continued support.”
WCL moves ahead with six teams
The WCL subsequently confirmed that its third season would continue without Pakistan Champions, reducing the tournament field from seven teams to six.
The World Championship of Legends said in a post on its official Instagram account that “Official Update: Pakistan Champions will not be participating in WCL Season 3 due to unforeseen circumstances. WCL Season 3 continues with six teams. The game is still on. The legends continue.”
Signs of uncertainty around Pakistan’s participation had emerged before the withdrawal was confirmed. Pakistan Champions had been scheduled to begin their campaign against Bangladesh Champions in Sharjah on October 3, but the fixture did not proceed as planned.
Announcing the initial change, the World Championship of Legends said in a post on its official social media account that “The Pakistan Champions vs Bangladesh Champions match scheduled for 3rd October 2026 at 7:30 PM GST has been postponed due to technical reasons. Further updates will be shared soon.”
Pakistan were also due to face Australia during the tournament before their eventual exit removed them from the competition entirely.
Dispute traces back to India-Pakistan clashes in 2025
The disagreement surrounding the PCB’s clearance stems from the previous WCL season, when India Champions declined to play Pakistan Champions on two occasions.
Their scheduled group-stage meeting was called off amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the April 2025 Pahalgam attack. India Champions later maintained their position when the teams were drawn against each other in the semi-finals.
Pakistan Champions consequently advanced to the final without playing the last-four fixture. They were beaten by South Africa Champions by nine wickets in the title match.
The events of that edition subsequently became central to the PCB’s position over Pakistan Champions returning to the WCL in 2026, with the reported request for an apology and handshakes emerging during discussions over the NOC.
India-Pakistan WCL match removed from 2026 schedule
Pakistan Champions had originally been part of a seven-team field alongside India Champions, Australia Champions, England Champions, South Africa Champions, West Indies Champions and newcomers Bangladesh Champions.
Their departure also removes one of the tournament’s most prominent scheduled fixtures, with India Champions and Pakistan Champions having been due to meet in Dubai on October 10.
