The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced its complete withdrawal from the World Championship of Legends (WCL), condemning the tournament’s “hypocrisy, bias, and abandonment of sporting neutrality.” The decision was finalized during the PCB’s 79th Board of Governors meeting, chaired by Mohsin Naqvi, following the WCL’s controversial move to award points to a team that forfeited the scheduled India vs Pakistan legends matches. The board accused the WCL of prioritizing political and commercial interests over fair competition, despite its stated mission of promoting “peace through sport.”
In a strongly worded statement, the PCB criticized the WCL’s press releases as “hypocritical” and politically motivated, arguing that the tournament’s apology for “hurting sentiments” tacitly admitted the cancellations were driven by non-cricketing factors. “Cricket must remain free from political influence and uphold the principles of goodwill and mutual respect,” the PCB asserted. The board declared it would no longer permit Pakistani players to participate in future WCL editions if the tournament fails to ensure neutrality and fair play.
The PCB reaffirmed its commitment to global cricket development and healthy rivalries but warned against events compromised by external biases. The virtual meeting was attended by key PCB officials, including Zaheer Abbas and Zahid Akhtar Zaman, who unanimously supported the decision. This move marks a firm stance against what the PCB views as the politicization of cricket, emphasizing that the sport should not be held hostage to geopolitical tensions. The withdrawal raises questions about the future of legends tournaments and their ability to maintain impartiality in high-profile cricketing contests.