Pakistan Champions withdraw from World Championship of Legends after PCB upholds NOC refusals

Pakistan Champions have withdrawn from Season 3 of the World Championship of Legends after the Pakistan Cricket Board upheld its decision to refuse No-Objection Certificates to the team's players, the move bringing an end to weeks of uncertainty over Pakistan's participation in the tournament ahead of the competition's ongoing schedule on October 5, 2026.

Owner Kamil Khan had formally asked the PCB to reconsider, according to Geo Super, and remained in discussions to secure clearances for his squad, but the board maintained its stance and prevented Pakistan's former internationals from representing the franchise. Reports say the PCB had sought conditions tied to last year's controversy that the WCL management did not accept, leaving negotiations unresolved.

In a club statement Pakistan Champions said: "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," and added: "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."

Pakistan Champions had been due to meet Bangladesh Champions in their opening match on October 3, but that fixture was postponed citing "technical reasons", and their scheduled match against Australia Champions on October 6 was cancelled. The team also shared a post on social media from the account @wclpakistanchampions as the situation unfolded.

The dispute traces back to the WCL edition held in July-August 2025 when India Champions refused to play Pakistan Champions in a group-stage fixture; that match was cancelled and both teams were awarded a point. The controversy resurfaced in the semi-finals when India again declined to take the field, the semi-final was called off and Pakistan advanced directly to the final amidst tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s wider stance on sporting engagements with Pakistan.

At its August 2025 board meeting the PCB announced a blanket ban on Pakistan's future participation in the WCL, accusing the organisers of "bias, hypocrisy and political interference" and objecting to the handling of the forfeited matches and what it described as "double standards." Pakistan Champions reached the 2025 final after India's semi-final withdrawal but lost to South Africa Champions by nine wickets.

Despite continued efforts from Pakistan Champions management to obtain the necessary clearances for 2026, the PCB’s position remained unchanged, leaving the franchise without several former international stars, including captain Shahid Afridi. The side was also absent from the tournament's trophy unveiling ceremony ahead of the current competition.

The confirmed outcome is that Pakistan Champions will not participate in the ongoing World Championship of Legends, with their opening match against Bangladesh Champions postponed and the October 6 fixture against Australia Champions cancelled, removing the franchise and its named players from the tournament schedule.