Live Update: Pakistan withdraw from World Championship of Legends after PCB refuse NOCs This year’s tournament began on 3 October, but Pakistan’s game against Bangladesh was postponed The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 The smile of a champion – Mohammed Siraj picked up five wickets in a ten-ball period, India vs Sri Lanka, Asia Cup final, Colombo, September 17, 2023 Alyssa Healy poses with the trophy after Australia retained the Ashes, England vs Australia, 3rd ODI, Women’s Ashes, Taunton, July 18, 2023 The standards by which Harmanpreet Kaur was eventually judged was reflective of what she had helped create as ctain Harmanpreet Kaur walks off the field after India’s big win against Netherlands, India Women vs Netherlands Women, T20 World Cup 2026, Leeds, June 17, 2026 Mandhana, who has been part of the side since 2013, has previously led India in 18 T20Is and four ODIs Smriti Mandhana looks on in the field, India vs South Africa, Women’s World Cup final, Navi Mumbai, November 2, 2025 Ind vs Zim – Niki Prasad, Jintimani Kalita and Nandani Sharma the new faces in Smriti Mandhana-led white-ball sides Shafali Verma has been elevated to the vice-ctaincy of the T20I side, while Dee Sharma will do the job in the ODI side for the games against Zimbabwe India U-19 ctain Niki Prasad is all smiles, India vs South Africa, Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup warm-ups, Malaysia, January 15, 2025 Harmanpreet Kaur ctained India to back-to-back Asian Games gold medal, India vs Sri Lanka, Asian Games women’s competition final, Nisshin, September 22, 2026 Everyone thought he was a late-order hitter and an occasional bowler.
West Indies – and India too – found out in the first T20I that Naman Dhir is a match-winning offspinner too Naman Dhir picked up two key wickets on debut, India vs West Indies, 1st T20I, Lucknow, October 6, 2026 Shreyas Iyer hammered a 42-ball century to help India over the line, India vs West Indies, 1st T20I, Lucknow, October 6, 2026 Tanmay Baloda picked up eight wickets in the second Australia Under-19 innings to set up a target of just 11, which India Under-19 knocked off in just five balls India Under-19 star Lakshya Raichandani has scored prolifically over the past year, moving from one format to the other without a pause, seemingly without any problems Lakshya Raichandani tonned up in the second innings, Sri Lanka Under-19 vs India Under-19, 2nd Youth Test, 3rd day, Colombo, July 22, 2026 Rajat Patidar scored a valiant fifty in India A’s chase of 275 but they slid to a 125-run defeat in the first unofficial ODI Nathan McSweeney hits through the off side, India A vs Australia A, 1st one-dayer, Puducherry, October 6, 2026 Priyansh Arya is in India A’s squad to face the visiting Australia A side for three one-dayers, and trusts his high-risk-high-reward game to give him the results Priyansh Arya plays down the ground, Sri Lanka A vs India A, 1st match, One-day tri-series, Dambulla, June 9, 2026 Scott will feature in the one-day series against India A after his exploits in the Big Bash League and recent unofficial Test series in Puducherry After years of setbacks and self-imposed pressure, a new outlook has given Renshaw the balance to embrace an unexpected three-format international comeback For the players coming into the Australia side after Sandpergate, it was bittersweet, but also a dream come true The Australian team during the national anthems, South Africa v Australia, 4th Test, Johannesburg, 1st day, March 30, 2018 Cameron Green reacts after copping a blow while batting, South Africa vs Australia, 3rd ODI, Potchefstroom, September 30, 2026 The ghosts of Sandpergate still hang over the rivals as Australia make it back to the country for the first Test tour since 2018 Temba Bavuma and Pat Cummins, the two ctains, wait to walk out with their players, Australia vs South Africa, World Test Championship final, Lord’s, June 11, 2025 Varun Chakravarthy is also back for India after missing the Asian Games, while Ravi Bishnoi has been left out Bhuvneshwar Kumar ran through Mumbai Indians’ top order, Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians, IPL, Raipur, May 10, 2026 Dhruv Jurel has been named the ctain of the side, while Rishabh Pant has been picked but his participation will be subject to fitness Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul had a job to do after being in the field for close to two days, India vs South Africa, 2nd Test, Guwahati, 2nd day, November 23, 2025 Rishabh Pant is back at Delhi Citals from Lucknow Super Giants, and Yuvraj Singh is expected to join the franchise as batting coach Tanmay Baloda picked up eight wickets in the second Australia Under-19 innings to set up a target of just 11, which India Under-19 knocked off in just five balls Former Pakistan ctain Shahid Afridi walks out with the Champions Trophy, South Africa vs England, Group B, ICC Men’s Champions Trophy, Karachi, March 1, 2025 Pakistan Champions have withdrawn from the World Championship of Legends (WCL) after the PCB refused to issue No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) to the side. It follows from a PCB statement last year accusing the competition of “hypocrisy and bias”, and warning it would “no longer condone participation in the event”, saying it had mixed politics with sport. It said it had issued a ” blanket ban ” on Pakistan’s future participation in an event.
It is a view the PCB stuck to, even as the WCL tried to secure NOCs that would enable the Pakistan side, who finished runners-up to South Africa in last year’s tournament, to participate. However, the deadlock persisted. “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 NOC,” the Pakistan Champions side mentioned recently to .
“Pakistan Champions owner Kamil Khan had formally requested the PCB to reconsider its decision and remained engaged in discussions regarding the team’s participation. We respect PCB’s authority and its decision, while naturally being dispointed that our players will not have the opportunity to represent Pakistan Champions at this global gathering of cricketing legends. We sincerely thank our players, supporters and fans for their patience, understanding and continued support.” This year’s tournament began on October 3, with a game between India and Australia, but Pakistan’s game against Bangladesh was postponed as the organisers tried to work out an agreement with the PCB.
learned that the WCL organisers were willing to reschedule Pakistan’s games while the NOCs were being worked on. However, with Australia slated to play Pakistan on Monday, it became clear that resolution wasn’t possible. The Pakistan Champions squad was set to be led by Shahid Afridi and also had Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez, Sarfraz Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, among others.
The PCB’s ire was first provoked after India withdrew from two contests against Pakistan, including the semi-final last year. While Pakistan were awarded a walkover in that game, the PCB took particular offence at India being awarded a point when they withdrew in a group stage contest against Pakistan, calling it “an unacceptable message to the international sporting community”. Former Pakistan ctain Shahid Afridi walks out with the Champions Trophy, South Africa vs England, Group B, ICC Men’s Champions Trophy, Karachi, March 1, 2025 Shahid Afridi was set to lead Pakistan Champions • ICC/ Pakistan’s selection merry-go-round brings Nawaz back into focus PCB issues ‘blanket ban’ on future participation in WCL Danyal Rasool is ‘s Pakistan correspondent.
