LAHORE – The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a blanket ban on all future participation in the World Championship of Legends (WCL), citing political interference, bias, and a disregard for the spirit of cricket. The decision was made during a Board of Governors (BoG) meeting chaired by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
In a strongly worded statement, the PCB accused the WCL organisers of compromising the core principles of sportsmanship by allowing “skewed politics and narrow commercial interests” to influence the tournament’s conduct. The board expressed outrage over the controversial cancellation of the Pakistan-India match, which it claims was handled with clear partiality.
“We cannot allow our players to be part of events where the spirit of the game is overshadowed by politics that undermine sportsmanship,” the PCB said in its press release.
The board specifically condemned the WCL’s decision to award points to a team that “willfully forfeited,” and criticised the tournament’s statements following the cancellation, calling them “tainted with hypocrisy and bias.”
Cricket Must Remain Free of Political Influence, PCB Stresses
The PCB reiterated its longstanding position that sports, particularly cricket, must remain independent of political agendas, serving only as platforms for goodwill, fair play, and healthy competition.
“For a tournament involving legends of the game to succumb to sentiments that erode these principles is both regrettable and alarming,” the board said, highlighting how the WCL’s approach was inconsistent with the spirit of international sport.
It also denounced the tournament’s apology for “hurting sentiments” as a “farce”, arguing that the rationale behind the match cancellation was rooted in appeasement rather than cricketing merit. “This kind of bias, masquerading as sensitivity, sends a deeply problematic message to the global sports community,” the statement continued.
In light of these developments, the PCB declared its firm withdrawal from any future WCL tournaments, citing “external interference and a disregard for sporting neutrality.” The board reaffirmed its commitment to promoting global cricket based on mutual respect, merit, and fairness.
Meanwhile, the WCL 2025 concluded on Saturday, with South Africa defeating Pakistan in the final by nine wickets. AB de Villiers led the charge with a match-winning, unbeaten century, helping South Africa lift the trophy — while Pakistan ended as runners-up in what may be their final appearance in the tournament.
