On Monday, a statement from the Pakistan Champions confirmed their non-participation, owing to what transpired between their players and the Indian team last season. A cricket tournament involving teams from India and Pakistan seldom remains devoid of drama. As the third season of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) started, suspense continued to surround the participation of the Pakistan Champions. As negotiations stretched between the team’s owner, the organisers, and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), it became increasingly unlikely that the tournament would feature the men from across the border.
Now, a report in Cricinfo has claimed that the Pakistan Champions were keen to participate in the tournament and had also formally requested the PCB to reconsider its decision not to issue the players with NoCs. However, the negotiations fell flat. As a result, the Pakistan team decided to withdraw from the tournament.
Later in the evening, the Pakistan Champions said in a statement: “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 NOCs.
The PCB had issued a blanket ban on the Pakistan Champions regarding future participation in the World Championship of Legends (WCL). The board accused the WCL of bias after the India Champions forfeited two matches against Pakistan, including the semi-final, over political conflicts. The WCL went on to split the points between Pakistan and India when the group-stage match was forfeited, leaving the PCB fuming.
