WCL 2025 Archives

WCL: Pakistan Champions owner criticizes PCB’s ‘blanket ban’ decision

BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan Champions owner Kamil Khan has reacted to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) recent decision, which bars his franchise from using the country’s name in future editions of the World Championship of Legends (WCL).

Khan expressed his disappointment regarding the “blanket ban” announced by the PCB following its 79th Board of Governors (BoG) meeting.

The cricket board released a strong statement on Sunday, criticizing the WCL organizers for their “double standards and politically motivated behavior.”

This decision was made after the India Champions refused to play against the Pakistan Champions during the WCL 2025, due to the ongoing political tensions between the two countries.

India pulled out of two scheduled matches, a group-stage encounter and the high-stakes semi-final, both of which were called off without a ball being bowled.

Points were shared in the group game, while Pakistan advanced to the final via a walkover in the semi-final.

However, the final saw Pakistan Champions fall short once again, suffering a nine-wicket defeat to South Africa Champions, their second successive runners-up finish in the tournament.

Despite the disappointment, Kamil Khan remained upbeat about his side’s overall campaign and strongly defended the team’s identity.

“Just like the first season, Pakistan Champions performed really well in the second season too,” he said while speaking to the media in Birmingham.

“Unfortunately, we couldn’t win the final, which we really wanted to, and millions of Pakistanis were hoping for it as well.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“But the team played well throughout. One bad day doesn’t make a team bad. Losing one final doesn’t mean the Pakistan Champions is over.”

Reacting to the PCB’s ban, Kamil made it clear that his team will return and continue to exist independently of the cricket board’s jurisdiction.

“We’ve seen reports that Pakistan Champions won’t be back, but I don’t know where that’s come from. If it’s from the PCB, then I’m not sure why,” he stated.

“This is our own team. I own it. It’s a private league, and I am the owner. PCB does not own the team. There are so many private leagues around the world; no one can stop us from naming our team after our country. Pakistan is our pride.”

Kamil Khan further revealed that the participation of Pakistani players in WCL 2025 was fully approved by the cricket board, as NOCs were obtained prior to the event.

“We took NOCs from the PCB for all the players,” he shared.

“In fact, we also met with Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who was supportive and helpful. I’m thankful to him for backing Pakistan Champions.”

He stressed that the team’s name was chosen to represent national pride, not to exploit official branding, and clarified that there was no infringement involved.

“There was no contact from the PCB before or after the tournament,” Kamil said.

“This is our national identity. We named the team accordingly. We didn’t use PCB’s logo or any of their branding, only their players, and that too after securing official clearance.”

READ: Pakistan’s star players join Northern Superchargers for The Hundred 2025

Suresh Raina reacts after Pakistan WCL 2025 defeat

Former India batter Suresh Raina has taken a cheeky dig at Pakistan Champions after their defeat in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 final against South Africa Champions at Edgbaston on Saturday.

AB de Villiers hammered an unbeaten century to help South Africa Champions decimate Pakistan Champions by nine wickets and seal the WCL 2025 title.

Chasing a stiff target of 196, the Proteas romped home with 19 balls to spare, thanks largely to a brutal 120* off just 60 balls from AB de Villiers.

Raina, who represented India Champions in WCL 2025, shared a cryptic message on the social media platform X.

“What a knock by AB de Villiers, absolutely smashed it,” he wrote.

“Had we played, we would’ve crushed them too, but we chose our nation above everything else,” he added.

Suresh Raina also praised sponsors for pulling out of the final featuring the Pakistan Champions.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

It is pertinent to mention that India Champions refused to play the group stage fixture and semi-final against Pakistan Champions, citing strained political tensions.

The WCL owner, Harshit Tomar, later revealed in an interview that the India Champions were united in boycotting the league stage clash against Pakistan.

However, he hinted that the team wanted to defeat Pakistan as a gift to their country.

“Everyone has their own way of showing patriotism — perhaps a sportsman shows it by stepping onto the field and winning,” he said.

“Somewhere along the way, we failed to understand the emotions of our country’s people,” he remarked.

READ: PCB imposes ‘blanket ban’ on future WCL participation

PCB imposes ‘blanket ban’ on future WCL participation

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.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

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

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

BIRMINGHAM: AB de Villiers hammered an unbeaten century to help South Africa Champions decimate Pakistan Champions by nine wickets and seal the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 title at Edgbaston on Saturday.

Chasing a stiff target of 196, the Proteas romped home with 19 balls to spare, thanks largely to a brutal 120* off just 60 balls from De Villiers.

The star batter smashed 12 fours and seven sixes in a knock that completely deflated the Pakistani bowling attack.

It’s worth mentioning that this was his third hundred of the tournament.

AB De Villiers started off with a brisk 72-run opening stand with Hashim Amla (18), who fell to Saeed Ajmal on the final ball of the powerplay.

JP Duminy joined his former captain, and the two shared an unbroken 125-run partnership to close out the match without any further damage.

Duminy finished with a fluent 50* off 28 balls, striking six boundaries.

Saeed Ajmal was the only wicket-taker for Pakistan, while the rest struggled for any control or breakthroughs.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Earlier, Pakistan Champions posted a competitive 195-5 after opting to bat first. Captain Mohammad Hafeez’s decision looked justified as the middle and lower order stepped up after an early setback.

Opener Kamran Akmal fell cheaply in the third over for 2, but Sharjeel Khan anchored the innings with a commanding 76 off 44 balls, laced with nine fours and four sixes.

He stitched a 40-run stand with Hafeez (17) and then added 72 runs with Shoaib Malik for the third wicket before falling to Hardus Viljoen.

Malik never got going and was dismissed for a scratchy 20 off 25 in the 15th over. That brought Umar Amin and Asif Ali together, and the duo gave Pakistan a much-needed boost in the death overs with a 61-run blitz.

Asif made 28 off 15, while Amin remained unbeaten on 36 off 19, both hitting three sixes apiece.

For South Africa, Viljoen and Wayne Parnell picked up two wickets each, with Duanne Olivier also chipping in.

READ: ACC president reveals Asia Cup 2025 venues, match timings

Shahid Afridi opens up on his availability for WCL 2025 final

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.”

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

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

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

BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan Champions captain Mohammad Hafeez on Friday provided an update on ace all-rounder Shahid Afridi ahead of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 final against South Africa.

Former all-rounder Shahid Afridi, who is part of the Pakistan Champions squad, is yet to feature in a match due to fitness concerns.

Speaking during a media interaction ahead of the WCL 2025 final, Hafeez rued Afridi’s absence, hinting at his inclusion for the summit clash tomorrow.

“It is very unfortunate regarding him that he is still not feeling very well, but today I’m really happy that he tried his level best. He is trying every day, but if we feel that we can get an impactful contribution from him, then we will definitely consider him,” he said.

The Pakistan Champions remained unbeaten throughout the league stage fixtures, topping the points table. Green Shirts advanced to the final for the second time in the event’s history after the India Champions’ forfeiture.

“First of all, I am really proud of the efforts from each and every one during our campaign, Mohammad Hafeez stated while praising the team spirit.

Every player took responsibility and followed three important points, which were integrity, respect, and the spirit of the game. We hit all of them,” he added.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Hafeez, who himself had a decent run with the bat, highlighted the challenge players faced and praised everyone for their contribution.

“We played excellent cricket throughout the tournament, and it was by no means fun cricket. It was very demanding, and everyone was very focused on delivering,” Hafeez said in a lighthearted manner.

One question regarding the playing XI, Hafeez said, they will finalize the lineup after assessing the conditions.

“Look, we did not assess the conditions yet. We’ll analyse the provided conditions tomorrow, and since all of our players are ready, so we will field our best composition,” Hafeez concluded.

READ: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley break England’s longstanding record against India

WATCH: AB de Villiers takes stunning catch to send Chris Lynn packing in WCL 2025

BIRMINGHAM: AB de Villiers left fans stunned with an outstanding catch during the semi-final of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 against Australia Champions here at Edgbaston on Thursday.

The 41-year-old De Villiers, who had a wonderful time with the bat during WCL 2025, failed to put up a decent show in the semi-final, getting dismissed early for just six runs in the crucial semi-final.

However, he turned back the clock with an acrobatic piece of fielding to send Chris Lynn packing, which proved to be a crucial breakthrough for the South Africa Champions.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by World Championship Of Legends | WCL (@worldchampionshipoflegends)

Australia Champions were cruising at 45 after 4.3 overs until Lynn’s removal. He made 35 from 20 balls, aided by four sixes and a boundary.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

In the final over of the semi-final, AB de Villiers once again demonstrated his outstanding fielding. The game eventually turned out to be a cliffhanger with Australia Champions needing 14 runs off the last over to seal a spot in the WCL 2025 final.

Rob Quiney struck Wayne Parnell for a six on the first ball of the over to balance the equation; however, he and Christian both failed to manage to hit a boundary on the next few balls.

As a result, chasing a 187-run target, Australia Champions fell one run short, scoring 185-7 in their 20 overs with Daniel Christian top-scoring with 49* runs.

For South Africa Champions, Wayne Parnell and Hardus Viljoen picked up two wickets each.

South Africa Champions will now face the runners-up of the last edition, Pakistan Champions, in the WCL 2025 final.

READ: South Africa edge Australia in last-ball thriller to set up WCL final with Pakistan

WCL owner breaks silence on India’s refusal to play Pakistan

World Championship of Legends (WCL) owner Harshit Tomar has shared his thoughts on India Champions’ refusal to play against arch-rivals Pakistan Champions in the second edition of the veterans tournament.

The tournament garnered interest when India decided against playing Pakistan in the league stage fixture of the tournament. The decision came after the recent tensions between two neighboring nations.

The highly anticipated India vs. Pakistan Champions fixture was officially called off, just hours before the two sides were set to meet at Edgbaston on 20 July.

Moreover, the high-octane semi-final between the two teams was also cancelled, with the India Champions deciding to not face their arch-rivals in the crucial encounter.

Following this, Pakistan Champions advanced to the final of the WCL 2025.

Now, Harshit Tomar has shared his views during a recent podcast, which was recorded before the finalization of the India-Pakistan semi-final fixture.

–“Everyone has their own way of showing patriotism — perhaps a sportsman shows it by stepping onto the field and winning,” he said.

“Somewhere along the way, we failed to understand the emotions of our country’s people,” he added.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Harshit Tomar further mentioned the other sports matches happening between India and Pakistan.

“We weren’t the first ones to organize such a tournament — there’s a Women’s World Cup this year in Sri Lanka in which Pakistan and India will be facing off each other,” the WCL owner said.

He revealed that the tournament was organized before the tensions flared between India and Pakistan, noting that the ECB is stringent on rules.

“I had finalized the plans for this tournament back in December. The rules are strict here and you have to communicate things in advance with the England Cricket Board (ECB).

The WCL owner noted that he became aware of the situation two days prior to the match.

“Two days before the match, I realized that the India vs Pakistan game was hurting people’s sentiments,” he revealed. Campaigns were running on social media, and the pressure grew in the news.”

The WCL owner further clarified it was a team’s decision and no player expressed desire to play against Pakistan.

“The day the decision was made, the entire Indian team was united. It was a decision made collectively by all 15 — not a single player expressed a desire to play. There could have been a better way to communicate this.”

The WCL owner lamented the miscommunication, stating that the players had wanted to defeat Pakistan as a gift to their people.

“I believe it would have been right if this decision had come along with the team. It was a joint decision. The thing that hurt me was to see some people being called patriots and others being questioned.”

“The whole team is there, and they’re big players, but I don’t want to speak on their behalf. We couldn’t finalize what decision to make, but as sportsmen, we wanted to step onto the field and prove ourselves. We wanted to gift the country something special,” he concluded.

READ: West Indies name T20I squad for Pakistan series with key inclusions

South Africa edge Australia in last-ball thriller to set up WCL final with Pakistan

BIRMINGHAM: South Africa Champions edge past Australia Champions in a last-ball thriller to reach the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 final here at Edgbaston on Thursday.

Chasing a 187-run target, Australia Champions fought hard but eventually fell one run short, scoring 185-7 in their 20 overs.

Australia Champions started strongly in pursuit of the target, putting up a 45-run stand in just 4.3 overs. Chris Lynn was the core aggressor, scoring 35 off 20 balls with the aid of four boundaries and a six.

However, Wayne Parnell provided the much-needed breakthrough, breaking the partnership with Lynn’s wicket.

Shaun Marsh, on the other hand, continued on his merry way and stitched together a crucial stand with D’Arcy Short to steady the Australia champions in the chase.

The southpaw made 25 from 17, striking a six and two fours before getting dismissed as Australia Champions were reduced to 71-2 in eight overs.

With the next wicket, Ben Dunk (12 off 11 balls) falling in the 12th over, Australia Champions needed a partnership, and they found one with Short and Daniel Christian stitching together a 33-run stand.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Both batters kept Australia afloat in the chase; however, D’Arcy Short was removed after scoring 33 off 29 deliveries.

South Africa Champions fought back in the last stage of the innings, taking wickets at crucial intervals to jolt the opposition’s progress.

The game eventually turned out to be a cliff hanger with Australia Champions requiring 14 off the last over to seal a spot in the WCL 2025 final.

Rob Quiney struck Wayne Parnell for a six on the first ball of the over to balance the equation; however, he and Christian both failed to manage to hit a boundary on the next few balls.

As a result, three runs were required from one ball and set batter Daniel Christian on the crease.

He struck the ball down the ground, and it looked like a definite two runs, but a brilliant throw from AB De Villiers at the bowler’s end resulted in a run out and sealed a memorable win for South Africa Champions.

Earlier, Morne van Wyk and JJ Smuts’ knocks propelled South Africa Champions to a strong total against Australia Champions.

Opting to bat first, South Africa Champions posted 186-8 in their allocated 20 overs.

The Proteas started poorly in the crucial encounter, losing their inform batter AB de Villiers only in the second over. He made six from four balls as South Africa Champions were 13-1.

However, following the early dismissal, Morne van Wyk and JJ Smuts partnered for a 112-run stand. Both batters notched up half-centuries and powered South Africa Champions to 124 in only 12 overs.

Daniel Christian provided the Australia Champions with a much-needed breakthrough, removing Smuts, who made 57 runs from 41 balls, striking eight fours and a six.

After a solid platform from the top-order, the Proteas failed to capitalize in the latter half of the innings, losing wickets at a crucial time.

Morne van Wyk top-scored for South Africa Champions with 76 from 35 balls, peppered with seven fours and five maximums.

For Australia Champions, Peter Siddle starred with the ball, taking a four-wicket haul for 30 runs in his quota of four overs.

READ: South Africa win toss against Australia in WCL 2025 semi-final

South Africa win toss against Australia in WCL 2025 semi-final

BIRMINGHAM: South Africa Champions have won the toss and opted to bat first against Australia Champions in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 semi-final here at Edgbaston on Thursday.

Playing XIs

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

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

Head To Head

South Africa Champions have faced each other twice in the tournament’s history, and on both occasions, the teams have secured dominant victories.

In 2024, during the inaugural edition of the tournament, the Australia champions emerged victorious after winning the game by 104 runs.

In the WCL 2025, South Africa champions thrashed the Australian champions by 95 runs.

South Africa Champions: 1 Australia Champions: 1

During the league stage fixtures, South Africa Champions remained in second position on the points table with four wins out of five games. In contrast, the Australia Champions finished in third position after winning two games.

In the league stage encounter held on 27 July, the Proteas comprehensively defeated the Aussies by a 95-run margin, thanks to AB de Villiers masterclass.

READ: Pakistan advance to WCL 2025 final following India’s withdrawal