Pakistan Champions Withdraw from World Championship of Legends Amid PCB Dispute

Pakistan Champions Exit WCL Season 3

On Monday, the Pakistan Champions announced their withdrawal from the ongoing World Championship of Legends (WCL) Season 3, following the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) refusal to issue the necessary No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for their players.

The team had been in negotiations with the PCB regarding their participation in the tournament after owner Kamil Khan urged the board to reconsider its stance, but the discussions did not yield a resolution.

In a statement released on Monday, the team expressed disappointment, stating, "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."

They acknowledged the PCB's authority while expressing their disappointment that their players would miss the chance to represent Pakistan Champions at this prestigious event, thanking their players, supporters, and fans for their understanding and continued support.

This withdrawal is a result of a dispute between the PCB and WCL organizers that originated from last year's tournament, where India Champions opted not to play against Pakistan Champions due to political tensions.

Following this, the PCB criticized the tournament organizers and placed restrictions on its players' participation in the league.

Reports indicate that the PCB was willing to issue NOCs under certain conditions, including a written apology from Indian players for their refusal to compete against Pakistan last year and assurances regarding handshakes between the teams.

However, the WCL organizers reportedly accepted some of the PCB's conditions but rejected the requests for an apology and handshakes, which ultimately led to the withdrawal of Pakistan Champions.

As a result, the anticipated India-Pakistan match scheduled for October 10 will not occur.

Pakistan Champions had previously finished as runners-up in the last two editions of the WCL, losing to India Champions in the inaugural 2024 final and to South Africa Champions in the 2025 final.

The WCL also confirmed the withdrawal of Pakistan Champions in a statement, noting that the tournament will proceed with six teams.

"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," the statement concluded.