WCL | PCB bans Pakistan from participation in future editions after India’s pull-out

‌The Pakistan Cricket Board has issued a stern statement to the organisers of the World Championship of Legends tournament, banning the Pakistan Champions side from participating in any of the future editions of the competition. This comes on the heels of the Indian Champions side pulling out from their games against their neighbours twice, in the group stages and the semifinal, in the current edition, which concluded on Saturday.

In the first instance, both sides shared points in the group stage, while the Men in Green made their way to the summit clash courtesy of their superior position in the points table after the second pull-out from India. The Pakistan Champions lost their final against the South Africa Champions by nine wickets in Birmingham to finish as the runners-up before the board came up with the stunning decision.

The PCB was reportedly not impressed with their neighbours hampering the spirit of the game with skewed political decisions. And despite the WCL’s organisers extending an unconditional apology for India’s pull-out, the board came up with the blanket ban.

"The cancellation was not based on cricketing merit but on appeasing a specific nationalistic narrative," the PCB said in a statement. "This sends an unacceptable message to the international sporting community.

"However, we cannot allow our players to be part of events where the spirit of the game is overshadowed by skewed politics that undermine the very essence of sportsmanship and the gentleman's game."

"The WCL's apology for 'hurting the sentiments', whilst being farcical, inadvertently acknowledges that the cancellation was not based on cricketing merit, but rather on succumbing to a specific nationalistic narrative," the statement further said. "This bias, masquerading as sensitivity, sends an unacceptable message to the international sporting community."