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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to impose a ‘blanket ban’ on future participation in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) following the conclusion of the 2025 edition.

The decision came in the wake of the WCL 2025 row, with the board citing double standards and politically motivated conduct by the organizers.

The cricket board took the decision during its 79th BoG meeting held virtually under the chairmanship of Mohsin Naqvi. During the meeting, PCB expressed disappointment over awarding a point to a team that willfully forfeited.

The winners of the inaugural 2024 WCL edition, India Champions, refused to play two games against Pakistan Champions and willfully forfeited one league stage fixture and the all-important semi-final due to the strained ties between both countries.

As a result, during the group stage match, both teams were awarded one point for cancellation. In the semi-final, Pakistan Champions received a walkover, advancing to the final of WCL 2025.

“The PCB has always advocated for the separation of sports and politics. Our unwavering belief is that cricket, like other international sports, should solely serve as a platform for goodwill, healthy competition, and mutual respect,” the board said in a statement.

“For a tournament involving legendary players to be dictated by sentiments that undermine this fundamental principle is not only regrettable but also deeply concerning for the future of independent sporting events,” it added.

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Additionally, the board condemned the press release issued by the WCL following the cancellation of the Pakistan-India legends match, terming it a biased and politically charged document.

“The championship’s purpose was compromised by political influence,” the PCB noted. “The press release was nothing short of a manifestation of prejudice.”

“The WCL’s subsequent apology appeared to be issued under the pressure of a particular form of nationalism,” the statement added, calling such double standards unacceptable in international sports.

Consequently, the PCB has formally decided not to send its team to future editions of the WCL, stating it will not take part in any event that has been politically compromised.

The virtual BoG meeting was attended by  COO Sumair Ahmed Syed, CEO PSL Salman Naseer, Zaheer Abbas, Zahid Akhtar Zaman, Sajjad Ali Khokhar, and Zafarullah Jadgal.

Tanveer Ahmed, Tariq Sarwar, Muhammad Ismail Qureshi, Anwaar Ahmad Khan, Adnan Malik, Usman Wahla (special invitee), and Mir Hassan Naqvi (Additional Secretary) were also present in the meeting.

READ: AB De Villiers-led South Africa Champions thump Pakistan to lift WCL 2025 title

Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi has officially unveiled the schedule and venues for the upcoming Men’s Asia Cup 2025, set to take place in the United Arab Emirates from September 9 to 28.

The eight-team T20I tournament will be jointly hosted at two venues, Dubai International Cricket Stadium and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Cricket Stadium.

The blockbuster India-Pakistan fixture is slated for September 14 in Dubai, which will also host the final on September 28.

According to Naqvi, Abu Dhabi will stage eight matches, including one Super Four clash on September 23, while Dubai will host the majority of the games, including both high-voltage Pakistan-India clashes if the two sides progress beyond the group stage.

All matches will begin at 6 PM Gulf Standard Time, barring the September 15 fixture between UAE and Oman.

ACC T20 Asia Cup venues and match timings are out! Looking forward to packed stadiums and some truly breath-taking encounters! pic.twitter.com/eKrJcwnJlj

— Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) August 2, 2025

In contrast to the last edition, the Asia Cup 2025 will feature eight teams instead of six, divided into two groups of four teams each.

Group A features arch-rivals Pakistan and India alongside Oman and the UAE. Group B includes Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Hong Kong.

The tournament kicks off on September 9 with Afghanistan facing Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi.

Pakistan begin their campaign on September 12 against Oman in Dubai, followed by the high-stakes clash against India on September 14.

Their final group match is set for September 17 against hosts UAE.

Asia Cup 2025 Schedule

Group Stage:

Sept 9: Afghanistan vs Hong Kong – Abu Dhabi

Sept 10: India vs UAE – Dubai

Sept 11: Bangladesh vs Hong Kong – Abu Dhabi

Sept 12: Pakistan vs Oman – Dubai

Sept 13: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka – Abu Dhabi

Sept 14: India vs Pakistan – Dubai

Sept 15: UAE vs Oman – Abu Dhabi

Sept 15: Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong – Dubai

Sept 16: Bangladesh vs Afghanistan – Abu Dhabi

Sept 17: Pakistan vs UAE – Dubai

Sept 18: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan – Abu Dhabi

Sept 19: India vs Oman – Abu Dhabi

Super Four Stage:

Sept 20: B1 vs B2 – Dubai

Sept 21: A1 vs A2 – Dubai

Sept 23: A2 vs B1 – Abu Dhabi

Sept 24: A1 vs B2 – Dubai

Sept 25: A2 vs B2 – Dubai

Sept 26: A1 vs B1 – Dubai

Final:

Sept 28: Final – Dubai

READ: Former India cricketer lauds Siraj for filling Bumrah’s boots

Pakistan Champions all-rounder Shahid Afridi has confirmed that he will not feature in the final of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 against South Africa, scheduled to take place later today at Edgbaston.

The veteran all-rounder has not played a single match in the tournament due to fitness concerns.

Despite his absence on the field, the team has performed impressively, remaining unbeaten throughout the group stage and reaching the final after India Champions forfeited their semi-final clash.

Fans were hoping to see Afridi in action during the final. However, during a press conference in Manchester, the star all-rounder revealed that doctors advised him not to play.

“The doctor has advised me to rest, so I won’t be playing the final,” he said, adding that he had hoped to make a comeback if Pakistan had played India in the semi-final.

“My heart wanted to play, especially if that semi-final had happened. Maybe I would’ve pushed through the pain.”

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Despite being sidelined, Shahid Afridi has been actively involved in the team’s preparations and mentoring the squad.

“I motivate the boys, remind them of their responsibility. I help arrange nets and practice sessions. That’s my contribution off the field,” he said with a smile.

Shahid Afridi also praised the team’s collective mindset, highlighting that playing for Pakistan remains their sole focus.

“We are here only for Pakistan. This green jersey is our pride, and we will give our best effort in the final, Insha’Allah,” he said. “All the boys trained hard and are match-ready.”

“Every senior here is serious about his performance. This isn’t a small league. When Pakistan’s name is involved, the intensity naturally rises.”

READ: Mohammad Hafeez provides update on Shahid Afridi’s availability for WCL 2025 final

LAUDERHILL: Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha credited his side’s all-round performance for the 14-run victory against the West Indies in the opening match of the three-game T20I series at Central Broward Regional Park Stadium on Friday.

Saim Ayub put in a solid all-round performance, and Mohammad Nawaz took three wickets in one over to lead Pakistan to a dominant victory.

Addressing the media after the match, Agha praised his team’s composure across all departments and pinpointed the key moments that turned the game in Pakistan’s favour.

“It was a great game. We assessed the conditions well, batted, and finished strongly. We started well with the ball, dominated the middle overs, and the spinners were outstanding,” he said.

Despite going wicketless in the powerplay, Salman Ali Agha highlighted the team’s ability to maintain control and stay patient.

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He particularly praised Mohammad Nawaz’s 11th over, which proved decisive. The left-arm spinner claimed three wickets in that over, halting the West Indies’ momentum and shifting the balance firmly towards Pakistan.

“The 11th over brought us three wickets, and that was the turning point. Once the ball got older, it became difficult to bat against spin, and I was just waiting for that moment,” he added.

Commenting on the pitch, Salman Ali Agha noted that it offered similar challenges to both sides, with the older ball becoming more difficult to deal with.

“It was easier to score against the new ball, but as it aged, it began to grip and turn. That made batting much harder for both teams,” he concluded.

READ: Saim Ayub, Nawaz star as Pakistan draw first blood in West Indies T20I series

BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan Champions have advanced to the final of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 after India Champions forfeited their semi-final clash against arch-rival, which was scheduled for tomorrow.

The WCL released an official statement about India Champions’ forfeit in the semi-final against Pakistan.

“At WCL, we have always believed in the power of sport to inspire and bring about positive change in the world. However, public sentiment must always be respected – after all, everything we do is for our audience,” the official statement read.

The statement further respected India’s decision of withdrawal, along with Pakistan Champions’ willingness to compete in the tournament.

“We respect the India Champions’ decision to withdraw from the semi-finals, and we equally respect the Pakistan Champions’ readiness to compete.

Taking all factors into consideration, the match between the India Champions and the Pakistan Champions has been called off. As a result, Pakistan Champions will advance to the final,” it added.

Earlier, it was reported that several Indian players were reluctant to play the match against Pakistan.

The high-stakes semi-final between the Pakistan Champions and the India Champions was scheduled to take place in Birmingham.

Two weeks ago, India Champions, who are also the reigning champions, refused to play a group stage fixture against Pakistan, resulting in one point awarded to both teams.

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India Champions WCL campaign started poorly, finding themselves at the bottom of the points table. Nevertheless, they managed to qualify for the semi-final after taking down West Indies in a thrilling chase.

The Men in Blue successfully chased down the target of 145 runs in just 14 overs to qualify, largely thanks to Stuart Binny’s half-century and Yousuf Pathan’s crucial innings.

On the other hand, Pakistan Champions, who were the runners-up of the last edition, remained dominant throughout the league stage fixtures, winning all of their games and finishing at the top of the points table.

Pakistan Champions routed Australia Champions for 74 runs in the WCL 2025 last league game, thanks to Saeed Ajmal’s explosive six-wicket haul.

Consequently, Pakistan Champions chased down the target without losing any wickets, finishing the match in the eighth over.

READ: Shahid Afridi trolls India Champions ahead of WCL 2025 semi-final

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly finalised the qualification pathway for the cricket event at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, and early signs indicate Pakistan may not feature in the men’s competition.

As per British media reports, the ICC, following discussions at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Singapore, has opted for a regional qualification model.

The approach, which also has the backing of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is aimed at ensuring continental representation and boosting cricket’s global footprint.

The men’s T20 competition at LA 2028 will feature six teams. One of those spots has already been allocated to the host nation, the United States.

Under the proposed format, the top-ranked teams from each continent will secure direct qualification, likely to include India (Asia), Australia (Oceania), South Africa (Africa), and Great Britain (Europe).

That leaves Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand, despite their stature in world cricket, out of automatic contention for the 2028 Olympics.

Reports suggest that both Pakistan and New Zealand have raised concerns over the format, but the decision is unlikely to be overturned, pending formal ratification by the ICC board.

Only one spot will remain after the five probable qualifiers are locked in.

The ICC is yet to decide how this final berth will be awarded, with speculation that it could be handed to a representative team from the Caribbean Islands, similar to the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where Barbados represented the region.

Both men’s and women’s events at LA 2028 will be played in the T20 format. The tournaments are scheduled to run from July 12 to 29, with the women’s medal match set for July 20 and the men’s final slated for July 29.

Cricket’s inclusion in LA 2028 marks its return to the Olympic stage after 128 years. The sport last featured at the 1900 Paris Games, where Great Britain defeated France in a one-off match to clinch the gold.

READ: Mohammad Abbas joins elite list of legends with 800 First-class wickets

LIECESTER: Saeed Ajmal six-wickets led Pakistan Champions to a dominant victory over Australia Champions in the 14th fixture of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 here at Grace Road on Tuesday.

Chasing a modest 75-run target, Pakistan eased past Australia in only 7.5 overs, without losing any wickets.

Pakistan’s openers started strong in pursuit of the target as they scored 17 from the opening three overs. Sharjeel Khan and Sohaib Maqsood looked in good touch as they crisped a couple of boundaries.

In the fourth and fifth over of the innings, the runners-up of the last edition took the attack to the Australian bowlers, scoring 10 off each over.

Pakistan Champions ended their powerplay on 45-0 with Sharjeel Khan scoring 26 off 18 balls, whereas Sohaib Maqsood made 19 from 18.

The victory was evident for the Pakistan Champions; however, the Australia Champions bizarrely ended their match.

John Hastings bowled 13 wides and one no-ball in the eighth over, eventually resulting in a comprehensive victory for Pakistan Champions.

With this victory, the Pakistan Champions finished at the top of the points table with four wins out of five games.

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Put into bat first, Australia’s Champions batting line faltered and were bundled out for 74 runs only in 11.5 overs.

Pakistan Champions jolted Australia Champions with early blows, reducing them to 17-2 in 2.4 overs.

Shaun Marsh was caught by Saeed Ajmal off Sohail Khan’s bowling in the second over, after scoring only seven. Chris Lynn, who made six runs, was sent back to the pavilion in the next over.

After early hiccups, Darcy Short and Ben Dunk partnered to forge a brief stand. The latter played a counter-attacking innings and made 26 off 14 balls with the aid of two sixes and three fours to steady Australia’s innings.

However, Dunk’s removal triggered a collapse that Australia could not recover from. Once Saeed Ajmal was introduced in the attack, it was all his spin magic that bundled them out for a meagre score.

Saeed Ajmal routed the lower order, starting with the removal of Short (2), Daniel Christian for a golden duck, Ben Cutting (5), Peter Siddle (5), and Steve O’Keefe for a single run.

For Pakistan Champions, Saeed Ajmal bowled an outstanding spell, taking a six-wicket haul for just 16 runs in 3.5 overs.

Playing XIs

Australia: Chris Lynn, Shaun Marsh, D Arcy Short, Ben Dunk (wk), Daniel Christian, Callum Ferguson, Ben Cutting, Peter Siddle, Brett Lee (c), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Steve O’Keefe

Pakistan: Sharjeel Khan, Kamran Akmal (wk), Fawad Alam, Umar Amin, Asif Ali, Shoaib Malik (c), Imad Wasim, Aamer Yamin, Sohail Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Saeed Ajmal

READ: New Zealand face major setback as key player ruled out of first Zimbabwe Test

Australia opener Usman Khawaja has questioned the incident involving a Pakistan fan during the fourth Test between India and England at Old Trafford.

Usman Khawaja posted on his social media handle regarding the incident that happened during the Manchester Test.

“This can’t be legit,” wrote Usman Khawaja on Instagram.

Earlier, a video emerged on social media in which a Pakistani fan named Farooq Nazar was told to cover up the Pakistan jersey. The spectator was wearing Pakistan’s traditional limited-overs jersey during the India-England match.

“I’ve been asked by control [Lancashire] if you can cover that shirt up, please,” the audio of the video transcribes.

In response, the spectator asked about the written order, and the guard replied that he should email regarding it.

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“Can you give me the written order? I have paid for the ticket. I need it in writing before I comply,” Nazar said in the video.

Later, a lady police officer came in and explained why he needed to cover up his shirt or have it changed.

“I will not cover the jersey because I am representing the country. You can take me out by force. Everyone can film me what you are doing to me. I have paid for the ticket. No Indian crowd complained about me,” he told several security people.

Following the incident, a Lancashire spokesperson stated that they have launched an investigation into the matter.

“We are aware of the incident referenced and are taking steps to understand the facts and context surrounding the matter fully,” the spokesperson said.

It is pertinent to mention that India and Pakistan have had tense relations in the recent past, both politically and in cricket terms.

A recent example was the cancellation of the 2025 World Championship of Legends (WCL) match between India and Pakistan, scheduled for 20 July at Edgbaston.

READ: WATCH: Fan asked to cover Pakistan jersey during India-England Test

SUSSEX: Azan Awais and Haider Ali struck half-centuries to hand Pakistan Shaheens a five-wicket win over the Professional County Club (PCC) Select XI in the third one-day match here on Sunday.

The victory also helped the Shaheens clinch the three-match series 2-1.

Chasing 261 to win, Pakistan Shaheens’ openers Shamyl Hussain and Azan Awais provided a solid 101-run start to the innings.

Left-hander Shamyl was the first to depart, returning to the pavilion after scoring 40 off 55 balls, including four boundaries.

Azan Awais was then joined by Mohammad Suleman and the pair stitched a 68-run stand for the second wicket, with Suleman contributing a brisk 44 off 40 balls, hitting four fours and three sixes.

After Suleman’s dismissal in the 31st over, captain Saud Shakeel (1 off 6) was soon back in the pavilion, leaving Pakistan Shaheens three down for 171 in 31.2 overs.

At that crucial juncture, Azan was joined by Haider Ali, who had earlier played a match-winning knock in the first one-day match.

The pair added 33 runs for the fourth wicket before Azan fell for a composed 88 off 104 balls, laced with 12 fours and a six.

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Pakistan Shaheens reached the target with 37 balls to spare, due to a quick-fire knock from Haider Ali, who remained unbeaten on 55 off 40 balls, striking five fours and three towering sixes.

For the Professional County Club Select XI, leg-spinner Harrison was the most successful bowler, claiming two wickets for 48 runs in eight overs.

Earlier in the day, right-arm fast bowler Ubaid Shah returned impressive figures of 4 for 41 in 9.4 overs to help bundle out the hosts for 260 in 46.4 overs.

Ubaid not only dismissed in-form opener Will Smeed (8), but also removed Ollie Sykes, top scorer for his side with a 56-ball 64, including two fours and five sixes.

Tom Lawes contributed 49, while wicketkeeper-batter Thomas made 44 off 52 balls before being bowled by Ubaid.

Musa Khan was also amongst the wickets, claiming 2 for 39, while Mir Hamza and Saud picked up a wicket each.

Having won the first one-day match by five wickets (DLS method), Pakistan Shaheens will now take on the Professional County Club (PCC) Select XI in the first three-day match, commencing from 29 July at the same venue.

The second three-day match will be against South Asian Cricket Academy & MCC Young Cricketers at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Canterbury from 3 to 5 August.

READ: Shikhar Dhawan comments on India facing Pakistan in WCL 2025 semi-final

LEEDS: AB de Villiers sublime century and all-round bowling performance powered South Africa Champions to a massive 95-run victory over Australia Champions in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025.

Chasing a daunting target of 242 runs in the 12th fixture of the tournament, the Australia Champions were bundled out for 146 runs in 16.4 overs here on Sunday at the Headingley Cricket Ground.

With half of the team back in the pavilion within the first six overs, it was always an uphill task for Australia to chase down a massive total.

After putting up an extravagant batting display, the Proteas bowlers starred with the ball. Imran Tahir removed dangerous Chris Lynn for a nought on the first ball of the opening over.

Shaun Marsh looked fluent for his 18 off 13 deliveries, crisping four boundaries before getting caught in the third over. D Arcy Short (13) and Daniel Christian were out for a golden duck on successive deliveries as Australia were reduced to 32-4.

However, Ben Dunk and Callum Ferguson partnered and forged a brief partnership for the fifth wicket, which brought the score to 61-5.

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Aaron Phangiso broke the partnership for South Africa Champions, removing Dunk (15), which halted Australia Champions’ progress.

The wicket triggered a mini collapse, resulting in quick wickets as the Australia Champions were reduced to 67-8 in 9.2 overs.

However, Ben Cutting and Peter Siddle crafted a 79-run partnership for the ninth wicket, demonstrating Aussie grit to take the total near 150 runs, but victory was far away as Australia’s Champions innings folded in the 17th over with the removal of Steve O’Keefe for a golden duck.

Peter Siddle valiantly scored 19 off 17, featuring two fours, whereas Ben Cutting top-scored and made 59* off 29 deliveries, striking four sixes and six fours.

For the South Africa Champions, Aaron Phangiso starred with the ball, scalping four wickets. Imran Tahir was equally good, claiming three wickets in four overs.

Earlier, South Africa Champions posted an imposing 241-run total against Australia Champions for the loss of six wickets in their allocated 20 overs.

The Proteas openers put on a massive 187-run stand peppered with boundaries in just 13.3 overs. AB de Villiers played as the core aggressor, whereas JJ Smuts played the second fiddle.

The first six overs saw rain-boundaries all around the park as the Rainbow Nation scored 78 runs. After the fielding restrictions were lifted, South Africa continued the charge with 41-year-old De Villiers reaching his half-century on just 20 balls.

Meanwhile, JJ Smuts also accelerated and scored his fifty in the 12th over as South Africa brought the score to 160. In the next over, AB de Villiers took Darcy Short to the cleaners, accumulating 22 runs off the over and reaching his second consecutive ton in style.

Eventually, De Villiers was out in the 13th over after scoring 123 runs from just 46 balls, laced with eight towering sixes and 15 fours.

However, the Australia Champions fought back at the end of the innings with quick wickets to restrict the South Africa Champions below 250, which had looked easy at one stage of the innings.

JJ Smuts’ prolific innings of 85 off 53 balls was laced with three sixes and 10 fours.

For Australia Champions, Peter Siddle was the pick of the bowlers, picking up three wickets in his quota of four overs.

Earlier, South Africa skipper Aaron Phangiso won the toss and decided to bat first. The Proteas have De Villiers back in their side after missing out on their encounter against the Pakistan Champions.

Playing XIs

Australia Champions 

Shaun Marsh, Chris Lynn, D Arcy Short, Ben Dunk(w), Callum Ferguson, Ben Cutting, Daniel Christian, John Hastings, Steve O’Keefe, Brett Lee(c), Peter Siddle

South Africa Champions 

AB de Villiers, Henry Davids, JJ Smuts, Sarel Erwee, Jacques Rudolph, Jean-Paul Duminy, Morne van Wyk(w), Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso(c), Hardus Viljoen, Duanne Olivier

READ: WCL 2025: South Africa win toss, bat first against Australia