The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a sweeping ban on the use of the name “Pakistan” in all privately run cricket leagues, following the controversy surrounding the India–Pakistan Legends fixture in the World Championship of Legends (WCL). The decision, made after an emergency Board of Governors meeting, is aimed at protecting the country’s cricketing identity and ensuring that the national name is not used without official sanction.
The move comes in the wake of a major embarrassment for Pakistan cricket during the WCL. The tournament’s much-hyped India vs Pakistan Legends matches were thrown into disarray when several Indian players, including Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, and Yuvraj Singh, refused to take the field against Pakistan Legends following political backlash and sponsor withdrawals in India. The semi-final fixture was eventually scrapped, with the boycott making headlines and raising questions about how teams using the national name were managed without PCB oversight.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said the board could no longer allow the Pakistan brand to be used in unsanctioned events where the board has no control over scheduling, player selection, or the political implications of fixtures. Under the new policy, no private league or team will be permitted to use “Pakistan” in its name unless granted written approval by the PCB. Organizers violating the directive risk legal action and bans on player participation.
The decision reflects deep frustration within the PCB over how the WCL incident was handled. Officials reportedly debated whether Pakistan Legends should withdraw entirely from the tournament after the India boycott, viewing the episode as damaging to the country’s cricketing prestige. Some members argued that the situation highlighted the danger of private competitions using the national identity without proper regulation, especially when politics intersect with sport.
The new rule will impact franchise leagues worldwide that use “Pakistan” branding without PCB involvement. Teams in African and American veteran leagues are expected to be affected immediately. The current Pakistan Legends side was allowed to complete the WCL under a one-off exemption, but future participation under that name will require official clearance.
While the move has been largely supported domestically, some former players have called for balance. Ex-captain Zaheer Abbas emphasized the need to keep cricket separate from political disputes but acknowledged the PCB’s responsibility to protect the national brand from misuse. The board, meanwhile, reiterated that the ban is not meant to discourage private competitions but to ensure that representing Pakistan carries appropriate authority and accountability.
For the PCB, the WCL episode served as a wake-up call in an era where commercial leagues proliferate and national identities are often leveraged for marketing. By asserting control over the use of “Pakistan,” the board hopes to prevent future controversies and maintain consistency in how the nation is represented on the global stage.
As the dust settles, the decision underscores a larger truth: in cricket-mad South Asia, the name of a nation carries weight far beyond the boundary ropes. The PCB’s ban signals its intent to guard that weight carefully, ensuring that when the word “Pakistan” appears on a scorecard, it does so with full authority and purpose.