Pakistan Champions have been officially withdrawn from the World Championship of Legends after their opening match against Bangladesh Champions in Sharjah was postponed. The postponement came after the Pakistan Cricket Board did not issue No-Objection Certificates to the players, leaving the squad unable to take the field.

Background

The 2026 edition of the World Championship of Legends began in the UAE, with Pakistan Champions scheduled to open their campaign against Bangladesh Champions. Pakistan had been drawn into a tournament featuring seven teams of retired international cricketers and were also set to face India Champions in Dubai on October 10, a fixture that had been generating significant attention.

This is not the first time Pakistan’s involvement in the tournament has run into controversy. During last year’s edition, India Champions twice refused to play against Pakistan Champions, with former India opener Shikhar Dhawan reportedly playing a leading role in that decision. Those refusals allowed Pakistan to advance through walkovers at the time.

Details

Trouble began when the PCB did not grant NOCs to the players required for them to travel and compete in the UAE-based tournament. As a direct result, the scheduled match between Pakistan Champions and Bangladesh Champions in Sharjah had to be postponed before a ball was bowled.

Captain Shahid Afridi and wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed chose not to travel to Dubai once the situation became clear, even though several other squad members had already arrived in the UAE ahead of the tournament. With the NOC issue unresolved, organisers were left with no option but to rule the team out of the competition entirely.

In an attempt to keep the team’s participation alive, the franchise’s owners reportedly proposed changing the team’s name so it could continue in the event under a different banner. That proposal was turned down, closing off what had looked like the team’s last realistic route back into the tournament.

Quotes

Pakistan Champions owner Kamil Khan has not given up hope of a resolution and remains hopeful that the PCB will reconsider its position on the NOCs, according to reporting from The Express Tribune. His comments suggest the franchise still sees a path back into the competition if clearance is granted at a later stage, even though the opening fixture has already been lost.

Impact

The withdrawal is a blow for fans who had been anticipating another high-profile clash between Pakistan and India’s legends sides in Dubai on October 10, a fixture now thrown into uncertainty. It also disrupts the tournament’s broader schedule, since organisers will likely need to adjust fixtures involving Pakistan Champions for the remainder of the event.

Beyond this single tournament, the episode highlights the recurring difficulty of staging legends cricket events that pair Pakistani and Indian players, given the pattern of walkovers and withdrawals seen across recent editions of the competition. It also raises fresh questions about how domestic board approvals can affect players’ ability to take part in overseas franchise and legends events.

Conclusion

For now, Pakistan Champions remain out of the World Championship of Legends, with their participation hinging on whether the PCB reverses its decision on player clearances. Organisers and fans alike will be watching closely to see whether a late resolution is reached in time to salvage Pakistan’s remaining fixtures, including the much-anticipated meeting with India Champions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which team has withdrawn from the tournament?
Pakistan Champions have withdrawn from the World Championship of Legends after their opening match against Bangladesh Champions in Sharjah was postponed. The postponement occurred because the Pakistan Cricket Board did not issue the No-Objection Certificates the players needed to travel and compete in the UAE. With captain Shahid Afridi and Sarfaraz Ahmed opting to stay back and a proposed workaround involving a team name change rejected by organisers, Pakistan Champions have been formally ruled out of the competition for the time being.

Who are the Pakistan Champions?
Pakistan Champions is the franchise representing Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends, a Twenty20 tournament made up of retired international cricketers. The side has traditionally featured well-known former Pakistan players, with Shahid Afridi and Sarfaraz Ahmed among the squad’s prominent names in recent editions. The team reached the final of the 2025 edition of the tournament, advancing after India Champions withdrew from their scheduled semi-final, and lost that final to South Africa Champions.

What is the World Championship of Legends?
The World Championship of Legends, commonly known as the WCL, is an international Twenty20 cricket tournament that brings together teams of retired players from major cricketing nations, including India, Pakistan, Australia, England, South Africa, Bangladesh and the West Indies. Launched in 2024, the tournament is designed to give fans a chance to watch former stars compete again in a competitive franchise-style format. The 2026 edition is being held in the UAE, split across venues in Sharjah and Dubai, and runs from early October into mid-October.