Pakistan Champions on Monday withdrew from the ongoing World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2026 after the tournament organisers rejected conditions reportedly sought by the Pakistan Cricket Board, including a written apology from Indian players for refusing to take the field against Pakistan during last year’s edition.
The withdrawal brings an end to days of uncertainty over Pakistan’s participation in Season 3 of the tournament, which began in the UAE on October 3. Pakistan Champions’ opening match against Bangladesh Champions had earlier been postponed for what organisers described as “technical reasons”, while the team waited for the required clearance from the PCB.
Apology demand rejected
According to sources familiar with the negotiations, the PCB had indicated its willingness to issue a No Objection Certificate to Pakistan Champions, but attached several conditions. Among them was a demand for a written apology from Indian players for refusing to take the field against Pakistan Champions during the 2025 WCL.
The PCB also sought assurances concerning the Indian players’ participation and the handshake issue if the two teams met during the 2026 tournament. WCL management accepted the commercial conditions put forward during discussions but rejected demands concerning an apology and handshakes.
“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 PCB’s demands,” a source familiar with the discussions said.
The claims about the specific conditions have emerged from sources associated with the negotiations. Pakistan Champions’ official withdrawal statement did not mention an apology or handshake demand.
Pakistan confirms withdrawal
Pakistan Champions subsequently announced that they would not participate in the tournament, saying the PCB had maintained its refusal to provide the required clearance.
“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,” the team said.
The team said it respected the PCB’s authority and decision but was disappointed that its players would not get an opportunity to represent Pakistan Champions at the tournament. It also thanked players and supporters for their patience during the uncertainty surrounding its participation.
The wording of the official statement differs from accounts of the negotiations provided by sources, who said the PCB was prepared to issue clearance if its conditions were accepted.
India match called off
Pakistan’s withdrawal means the much-anticipated India Champions-Pakistan Champions fixture scheduled for October 10 will no longer take place. The WCL’s official schedule had listed the two sides for a 7.30 pm UAE time contest.
Pakistan were also due to face Australia Champions on Monday, but that match was cancelled following the developments surrounding the team’s participation.
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi had been listed to lead Pakistan Champions in Season 3. He was not in the UAE for the team’s scheduled opening match against Bangladesh, which was eventually postponed.
2025 boycott at heart of row
The dispute can be traced to the 2025 edition of the WCL, when India Champions twice declined to play Pakistan Champions amid heightened India-Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack.
The teams were first scheduled to meet during the group stage, but India Champions players refused to take the field. The match was subsequently cancelled and the points were shared.
The issue resurfaced when India and Pakistan were drawn against each other in the semi-final. India Champions again declined to play, resulting in Pakistan progressing directly to the final through a walkover.
Pakistan Champions eventually finished runners-up after losing the final to South Africa Champions by nine wickets. Pakistan had also finished runners-up in the inaugural edition of the competition.
PCB had hit out at WCL
Following the controversy last year, the PCB announced that it would not allow Pakistani players to participate in future editions of the WCL. It accused the tournament management of adopting what it regarded as an inconsistent approach to the India-Pakistan fixtures.
The WCL had apologised after the controversy surrounding the group-stage match, saying it had not intended to hurt sentiments. The PCB subsequently criticised the handling of the episode and questioned the tournament’s approach to sporting neutrality.
With the third season approaching, Pakistan Champions management sought to persuade the PCB to reconsider its position. Team owner Kamil Khan was reported to have been engaged in discussions with the board to secure the required clearance.
Commercial terms accepted
Those negotiations eventually produced the conditional proposal that triggered the latest impasse. Sources said WCL management was prepared to accept commercial conditions sought by the PCB but drew the line at requirements involving the Indian players.
Reports differ slightly over the exact formulation of one of the conditions. Some accounts say the PCB wanted an assurance that the organisers would have no objection if Indian players chose not to participate, while others describe the discussions as involving guarantees concerning India’s participation and handshakes.
What is clear is that the proposed written apology from Indian players was rejected by the WCL management, after which the Pakistan Champions’ participation could not be cleared.
Seven-team event hit
The withdrawal leaves the tournament without one of its major teams and removes its most commercially prominent rivalry fixture. Season 3 was originally structured as a seven-team competition featuring India Champions, Pakistan Champions, Australia Champions, South Africa Champions, England Champions, West Indies Champions and Bangladesh Champions.
The competition, running from October 3 to 18 in the UAE, features several former international stars, including Yuvraj Singh, AB de Villiers, David Warner, Chris Gayle and Moeen Ali.
Pakistan’s withdrawal also illustrates how the fallout from the abandoned India-Pakistan matches in 2025 has carried into a second WCL season. Despite negotiations between the PCB, Pakistan Champions and tournament management, the parties could not reach an agreement on the conditions for the team’s return, leaving the 2026 competition without an India-Pakistan contest.