Pakistan Champions have officially withdrawn from the 2026 World Championship of Legends (WCL), the third edition of the popular veterans’ tournament currently underway in the UAE. PCB had a high demand from Indian players, but after their rejection, the team was forced to quit the event. This comes amid the controversies between the two countries on the sporting ground following the geopolitical tensions. It most recently involved the women’s Indian cricket team rejecting to collect the Asia Cup 2026 trophy from Mohsin Naqvi. However, the controversy in WCL is not new and stems from last year.
Why did Pakistan Champions withdraw from World Championship of Legends 2026? Here is what PCB wanted from Indian players which was rejected
The withdrawal decision stems from the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) refusal to issue unconditional No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) to its players. According to multiple sources, the PCB had agreed in principle to clear the team only if certain conditions were met. One of the conditions was a written apology from Indian players for events in the previous edition and related assurances. The organisers rejected those non-commercial demands, which resulted in the withdrawal.
Sources close to the negotiations report that the PCB, under chairman Mohsin Naqvi, sought a written apology from Indian players, including prominent names such as Yuvraj Singh, for declining to take the field against Pakistan Champions in 2025. The board also wanted an understanding that the sides would shake hands and, in some accounts, assurances that the organisers would not object if Indian players later chose not to participate. While the WCL management accepted the PCB’s commercial terms, it declined the apology and handshake conditions.
Team owner Kamil Khan tried to solve the matter; Pakistan Champions release statement
Owner Kamil Khan requested the board to reconsider its decision; however, the situation remained unresolved, leading to the pullout. He had reportedly sought to persuade the PCB to soften its position, including exploring alternative arrangements, but the board held firm and did not accept any alternative. Former Pakistani players who had travelled or prepared for the event were left without matches.
Pakistan Champions went on to issue a statement expressing regret, noting that they respected the PCB’s authority even as they were disappointed that their players would miss the global gathering of legends. The organisers themselves described the withdrawal as resulting from “unforeseen circumstances” and confirmed that the tournament would continue with the remaining six teams. The statement by the team read:
“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.”
It continued:
“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.”
The statement further read:
"We sincerely thank our players, supporters and fans for their patience, understanding and continued support.”
The issue stems from last year’s edition when India Champions refused to play vs Pakistan Champions
The issue stemmed from a year when India Champions declined to play their scheduled matches against Pakistan Champions following the political tensions. This followed a dispute between the PCB and the WCL organisers. The tournament organisers were criticised by the PCB, which also imposed restrictions on the participation of its players in the league.
The roots of the dispute lie in the 2025 edition of the WCL, held primarily in England. That tournament took place against a backdrop of sharply elevated tensions between the two neighbouring countries following the April 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir. In that unfortunate incident, 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed, after which India attributed the attack to Pakistan-based militant groups, an accusation Islamabad denied.
The incident triggered a period of intense bilateral friction, including military exchanges and diplomatic measures. In that charged atmosphere, several Indian Champions players, among them Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, Shikhar Dhawan and others, declined to face Pakistan Champions. A scheduled group-stage match was called off, and the semi-final meeting was also abandoned after the Indian side maintained its stance.
Pakistan Champions advanced to the final following the walkover, where they lost to South Africa Champions. Organisers at the time acknowledged public sentiment and apologised for any unintended discomfort caused by attempting to stage the fixtures.
WCL features former international players from several nations in T20 format
The WCL features former international stars from several nations in a competitive T20-style format. For 2026, the original seven-team line-up included India Champions, Pakistan Champions, Australia, England, South Africa, West Indies and debutants Bangladesh. Pakistan Champions, runners-up in both previous seasons and captained by Shahid Afridi, were due to open against Bangladesh Champions on 3 October in Sharjah. That fixture was postponed for “technical reasons,” and subsequent matches, including one against Australia, were also cancelled.
India vs Pakistan on October 10 in WCL Season 3 called off
A high-profile India vs Pakistan clash scheduled for 10 October in Dubai has now been called off entirely. For many cricket fans, the latest development is another illustration of how geopolitical realities continue to constrain sporting engagement between the two neighbours and traditional rivals. India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series for years, and even multilateral or exhibition events remain sensitive. Legends tournaments such as the WCL have occasionally provided a lower-stakes environment in which retired stars can meet, generating nostalgia and commercial interest.
In 2025, the decision not to force reluctant Indian players onto the field was widely understood in the context of recent violence and national sentiment. In 2026, the reciprocal insistence on a formal apology has produced a different outcome, which is the complete absence of the Pakistan side. The WCL’s decision to proceed with six teams allows the event to continue, yet the absence of Pakistan Champions removes a significant element of its original appeal.
For now, the 2026 World Championship of Legends continues without one of its founding participants, a reminder that even exhibition cricket between Indian and Pakistani players operates under the shadow of larger unresolved tensions. In other news, India still awaits the Asia Cup trophies handed to the BCCI office, won by the men's and the women’s team. The women’s side won the title beating Sri Lanka but refused to take the trophy because Naqvi was the one handing it. The men’s team had also refused to collect it in September 2025 when thry won the tournament,mnet beating Pakistan. Naqvi was there to hand over the trophy too. However, BCCI hopes they will get both the trophies soon.