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PCB Bans Using 'Pakistan' For Private Leagues Without Permission: Reports
Follow UsIndia refused to play Pakistan twice in WCL 2025 due to the ongoing political tensions between the two nations
The World Championship of Legends (WCL) T20 league has created quite a stir in recent times with India refusing to play Pakistan not once but twice. India
The likes of Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Shikhar Dhawan and Harbhajan Singh opted out of playing Pakistan in the league stage, and when India qualified for the semi-final, they once again refused to take the field against their neighbours.
This comes after political tensions between the two nations, following the Pahalgam terror attack and the Operation Sindoor carried out by the Indian armed forces on Pakistani soil to eliminate terror camps.
As a result, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken a strong step, ordering that "Pakistan" not be used in leagues without the consent of the board.
“The decision was taken after a detailed discussion in the Board of Directors meeting on Thursday. The high-level authorities felt Indian players refusing to play Pakistan in the WCL's second edition twice was hurtful to the name of the country," Telecomasia.net quoted a source as saying, according to Mint.
“Going forward, no private organisation will be allowed to use the country’s name in any capacity unless the PCB verifies the league’s legitimacy and reputation. All violators will face legal action,” it added.
However, the two teams are set to clash in the Asia Cup 2025, which will be played next month in the UAE. The arch-rivals could potentially play up to three times, including the final on September 28.