Pakistan Champions have withdrawn from the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2026 after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) refused to issue the required No-Objection Certificates (NOCs). The team finished runners-up to South Africa in last year’s tournament but will now miss the ongoing edition.

The development comes after the PCB took a strong stance against the WCL following controversies involving India and Pakistan during the previous edition. Despite efforts to resolve the issue, the board maintained its position.

PCB maintains its stance on WCL participation

The PCB’s decision stems from India withdrawing from two matches against Pakistan last year, including the semi-final. Pakistan received a walkover in the knockout match, but the PCB was particularly unhappy after India were awarded a point following their withdrawal from a group-stage fixture against Pakistan.

The board described the situation as an “unacceptable message to the international sporting community” and accused the competition of “hypocrisy and bias”. It also said the WCL had mixed politics with sport before announcing a blanket ban on Pakistan’s future participation. The PCB maintained that stance this year despite attempts by the WCL organisers to secure the necessary NOCs.

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Pakistan Champions confirm withdrawal from WCL 2026

Pakistan Champions confirmed their withdrawal after the PCB upheld its decision. Team owner Kamil Khan had formally requested the PCB to reconsider its decision and remained involved in discussions over the team’s participation. However, no agreement could be reached.

The team said in a statement: “Pakistan Champions regret to confirm that the team will not be able to participate in the ongoing WCL, following the Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision to uphold its refusal to issue the required NOC.”

The 2026 WCL began on October 3, while Pakistan’s scheduled match against Bangladesh was postponed as organisers tried to find a solution. The WCL was reportedly willing to reschedule Pakistan’s matches while the NOC issue was being discussed. With Pakistan Champions due to face Australia on Monday, it became clear that the deadlock could not be resolved in time. The squad was set to be led by Shahid Afridi and included Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez, Sarfraz Ahmed and Wahab Riaz.

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