PCB approves Pakistan Champions for WCL but seeks assurances on India players’ participation

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has agreed to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the Pakistan Champions team to participate in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) currently taking place in the United Arab Emirates, subject to specific conditions.

Sources within the WCL stated that the PCB requested assurances from the tournament organisers, including a clause confirming no objection should Indian players choose not to participate in matches against Pakistan Champions.

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“The PCB agreed to issue an NOC to the Pakistan Champions team for the WCL, subject to certain conditions. However, the WCL management did not agree to any of the demands made by the PCB,” the sources said.

Among the demands was a request for written apologies from Indian players for their refusal to take the field against Pakistan Champions in the previous year’s tournament. The PCB also indicated they would consider a handshake between players to resolve tensions.

Despite accepting the commercial terms proposed by the PCB, the WCL management rejected the demands related to written apologies and a handshake between the players.

This situation has contributed to ongoing uncertainty regarding Pakistan Champions’ involvement in the current edition of the WCL.

In the 2025 WCL, India Champions players declined to play their scheduled semi-final against Pakistan Champions, citing geopolitical tensions and public sentiment following the Pahalgam terror attack. This refusal allowed Pakistan Champions to advance directly to the final.

The Indian squad, comprising former internationals including Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla, Yusuf Pathan and Robin Uthappa, chose not to take the field amid strained relations between the countries.

This marked the second instance in the tournament when India Champions withdrew from fixtures against Pakistan Champions. The two teams had been due to meet in the group stage as well, but that match was also cancelled after India Champions declined participation.