Sports
PCB Blocks Pakistan Champions from WCL After India Boycott, No-Objection Certificate Denied
Mohsin Naqvi, head of the Pakistan Champions board, demanded that Indian cricketers who boycotted last year’s World Championship of Legends (WCL) issue a written apology and shake hands with Pakistani players. When the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) refused to grant the required No‑Objection Certificate (NoC), the Pakistan Champions were barred from participating in the WCL’s third season. The team issued a statement saying it would not be able to compete and thanked supporters for their patience. The boycott stemmed from the India Champions side withdrawing from two matches against Pakistan Champions in the 2025 edition after the Pahalgam terror attack. Both teams had earned a point from the abandoned clash, which helped India reach the semi‑finals. India later withdrew from a quarter‑final against Pakistan Champions, allowing Pakistan to advance to the final. The WCL, co‑owned by Harshit Tomar and actor Ajay Devgn, rejected the PCB’s conditions for the NoC, leading to the decision to deny the certificate. The Pakistan Champions expressed disappointment that their players would not represent Pakistan at the global gathering of cricket legends.