Pakistan Champions have withdrawn from the ongoing World Championship of Legends (WCL), with a dispute over their participation reportedly centred on a demand for a written apology from the Indian team.
The development follows tensions that emerged after the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequently spilled over into the previous edition of the Legends tournament. India boycotted two matches against Pakistan during the last edition, including the semi-final, in protest following the attack and the heightened tensions between the two countries.
According to a report by NDTV citing sources, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had initially been reluctant to allow its former players to take part in the current tournament. The board later agreed to issue the necessary No Objection Certificates (NOCs), but reportedly attached a condition to the approval.
Pakistan wanted the Indian team to provide a written apology over the incidents surrounding the previous edition of the competition. However, the WCL organisers rejected the demand, leaving the participation of Pakistan Champions in doubt.
With the condition not accepted, the Pakistan side ultimately withdrew from the tournament. The organisers, however, described the reason for the withdrawal more broadly, saying in a statement that Pakistan Champions had pulled out because of ‘unforeseen circumstances’.
The withdrawal came despite the Pakistan Champions having been scheduled to take part in the current edition. Their first match was due to be against Bangladesh Champions, with former Pakistan stars such as Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik expected to feature for the side.
The Pakistan Champions subsequently issued a statement confirming that the team would not be able to participate after the PCB maintained its decision not to issue the required NOCs. The team said it respected the authority of the PCB and its decision, while expressing disappointment that its players would miss the opportunity to represent Pakistan in a tournament featuring cricket legends from around the world.
The dispute highlights how tensions between India and Pakistan can continue to affect cricketing events even when the players involved are retired international stars. Matches between the two countries traditionally attract considerable attention, while political and security developments have frequently influenced their sporting engagements.
For the WCL, Pakistan’s withdrawal also means that the tournament will proceed without one of its participating sides. The immediate impact is particularly relevant to Bangladesh Champions, who were due to face Pakistan Champions in the opening stage of the competition.
The current edition of the World Championship of Legends began on 3 October and is scheduled to conclude on 18 October. The tournament brings together former international cricketers, allowing several well-known players from previous generations to return to competitive cricket.
Pakistan’s exit before taking the field means the team will not feature in any of its scheduled matches in the ongoing edition. What had been expected to be another opportunity for former stars to share the field has instead been overshadowed by a dispute involving the PCB, the tournament organisers and the continuing sensitivities surrounding India-Pakistan cricket.
