Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Pakistan Champions Withdraw From WCL Season 3 After PCB NOC Dispute
Pakistan Champions will not play in this season of the World Championship of Legends.
The Pakistan Cricket Board did not give the players the permission papers they needed, called NOCs.
Team owner Kamil Khan asked the board to change its decision, but they did not reach an agreement.
The disagreement is connected to last season, when India Champions did not play scheduled matches against Pakistan Champions and later withdrew from the semi-final.
Reports say the board wanted an apology from Indian players and a promise about handshakes before giving permission.
The tournament organisers reportedly did not agree to those requests.
Because Pakistan Champions withdrew, the planned India-Pakistan match on October 10 will not happen.
The WCL says the tournament will continue with six teams.
Pakistan Champions withdrew from WCL Season 3 after the PCB maintained its refusal to issue players the required NOCs.
Owner Kamil Khan sought reconsideration, but discussions with the board did not resolve the dispute.
The disagreement follows Season 2, when India Champions declined scheduled matches against Pakistan Champions and withdrew from the semi-final.
Reports said the PCB’s proposed NOC conditions included a written apology from Indian players and an assurance about handshakes; organisers reportedly rejected those demands.
The withdrawal cancels the scheduled October 10 India-Pakistan match; WCL said Season 3 would continue with six teams.
- Who
- Pakistan Champions and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB); the decision affects the team’s players, including captain Shahid Afridi.
- What
- Pakistan Champions withdrew from WCL Season 3 after the PCB upheld its refusal to issue player NOCs.
- When
- The withdrawal was announced on Monday, October 5, during WCL Season 3; the scheduled India-Pakistan match was set for October 10.
- Where
- The World Championship of Legends; the Season 2 match boycott described in one report took place in Birmingham.
- Why
- The PCB’s NOC refusal followed a dispute with WCL organisers over last season’s India-Pakistan matches and reported conditions for issuing NOCs.
Pakistan Cricket Board
WCL Organisers and Pakistan Champions
NOC conditions
Pakistan Cricket Board
According to reports, the PCB tied NOCs to conditions including a written apology from Indian players and an assurance about handshakes.
WCL Organisers and Pakistan Champions
Reports said WCL organisers rejected the apology and handshake demands; Pakistan Champions said it respected the PCB’s authority but regretted missing the tournament.
Season 2 dispute
Pakistan Cricket Board
The PCB criticised the organisers after India Champions declined scheduled matches against Pakistan Champions and withdrew from the semi-final.
WCL Organisers and Pakistan Champions
The organisers reportedly accepted some PCB conditions but did not accept the demands for an apology and handshake assurance.
- Tournament
- World Championship of Legends (WCL), Season 3
- Withdrawing team
- Pakistan Champions
- Decision
- The PCB upheld its refusal to issue the players the required NOCs.
- Owner’s appeal
- Kamil Khan asked the PCB to reconsider; discussions did not resolve the standoff.
- Reported conditions
- A written apology from Indian players and an assurance regarding handshakes were among the reported NOC conditions.
- Match affected
- The scheduled India-Pakistan match on October 10 will not take place.
- Tournament format
- WCL said Season 3 would continue with six teams.
- Previous finals
- Pakistan Champions were runners-up in the 2024 and 2025 WCL editions.
