India snubs Pakistan in WCL 2025, PCB mulls banning 'Pakistan' name in private leagues to save face

In a dramatic turn of events during the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, India Champions refused to play against Pakistan Champions—not just in the group stage, but also in the semi-finals. The move has left the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) red-faced, with reports suggesting the board is preparing a strong response to protect its national pride.

PCB may ban 'Pakistan' name in private leagues

According to a Telecom Asia Sport report, the PCB held a Board of Directors meeting on July 30 to address the growing embarrassment. In that meeting, a serious step was discussed: banning the use of the name "Pakistan" in any private cricket league.

The PCB feels that the repeated refusals by Indian players to face the Pakistan Champions have damaged Pakistan’s global cricketing image. Hence, going forward, private leagues may be prohibited from naming their teams with “Pakistan”, and legal action may follow if such naming continues.

WCL 2025 Final: Pakistan Champions vs South Africa

Despite the controversy, Pakistan Champions have reached the final of WCL 2025, having topped the group stage with 4 wins and 1 no-result, earning 9 points.
With India opting out of the semi-final, Pakistan advanced directly to the final, where they will face South Africa Champions, who narrowly defeated Australia Champions by 1 run in a thrilling semi-final.

The WCL 2025 final will be played on Saturday, August 2.

While the Pakistan Champions' performance has been commendable, the political and sporting fallout from India's boycott is now taking center stage. All eyes are on the PCB's next move — and what it could mean for future private cricket tournaments.