LAHORE – Pakistan’s participation in World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2026 is unlikely due to Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision to keep Pakistani players and teams away from the tournament reportedly began affecting preparations for the UAE edition.
The controversy surrounds last year’s WCL rather than being a completely new decision specifically targeting the 2026 tournament. The third season is scheduled to take place in Dubai and Sharjah from October 3 to 18, with Pakistan Champions originally included in the line-up and an India-Pakistan Champions clash planned for October 10 in Dubai.
The dispute dates back to the 2025 WCL in England, when India Champions refused to play Pakistan Champions on two separate occasions.
The first refusal came during the group stage, while the second occurred in the semi-final. The withdrawals came amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack and the wider deterioration in relations between the two countries.
The organisers eventually cancelled both fixtures. In the group stage, points were awarded to both sides despite India’s withdrawal. Pakistan later reached the final after receiving a walkover in the semi-final.
Pakistan went on to lose the final against South Africa Champions. The handling of two India-Pakistan fixtures angered the PCB, which accused the organisers of adopting an inconsistent approach and questioned the decision to award points to a side that had refused to play.
The board also criticised what it viewed as selective use of the WCL’s “peace through sport” message and argued that political or commercial considerations should not be allowed to dictate sporting decisions.
After the controversy, PCB announced that Pakistani players and teams would be barred from future participation in the WCL. The board also moved to restrict the use of the Pakistan name in privately organised cricket competitions, requiring formal clearance where Pakistan was being represented.
The policy is now reportedly being applied to the 2026 season. As per latest reports, Pakistani cricketers will not be permitted to participate in the WCL 2026 and that a team will not be allowed to compete using the Pakistan name without PCB approval.
The development has come despite earlier preparations by Pakistan Champions for the UAE tournament. The privately owned franchise had been expected to travel for the event, while its owner had previously indicated that preparations were underway and that PCB approval had been received.
The original schedule had Pakistan Champions facing Bangladesh on October 3, Australia on October 5, West Indies on October 6, India on October 10, South Africa on October 12 and England on October 14. If Pakistan’s participation is blocked, the entire fixture list will have to be reconsidered.
The biggest question surrounds the October 10 showdown between Pakistan and India. The fixture had been billed as one of the headline attractions of the UAE edition, bringing former stars from the two countries together once again.
But the PCB’s reported restrictions could now force organisers to cancel the match, replace the Pakistan side or redesign the schedule. The uncertainty also revives memories of the two matches that never took place between the teams during the 2025 edition.
WCL is a privately organised T20 tournament featuring former international cricketers and retired stars competing in teams representing different countries. The competition began in England in 2024 and returned there for its second season in 2025.
The 2026 edition is the tournament’s first season outside the UK and is scheduled to be staged in Dubai and Sharjah from October 3 to 18. Seven teams were planned for the third season: India, Pakistan, Australia, England, South Africa, West Indies and Bangladesh.
The tournament combines competitive T20 cricket with nostalgia and entertainment, bringing well-known former players back onto the field. Stars associated with the competition include Shahid Afridi, Yuvraj Singh, AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle and David Warner.
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