Pakistan Champions withdraw from WCL after not getting NOC

Pakistan Champions have withdrawn from the ongoing World Championship of Legends (WCL) after failing to secure the necessary clearance or No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). ESPN Kwese
Citing controversies from last year, the PCB once again denied permission for former Pakistani cricketers to participate in this tournament. Consequently, last-minute attempts by the organizers to reach a compromise proved futile.
PCB's stance remains unchanged
Last year, India Champions refused to play against Pakistan Champions in both the group stage and the semi-final of the WCL. While Pakistan received a walkover in the semi-final, the PCB was aggrieved that India was awarded points for the group stage match despite not playing.
Subsequently, the PCB labeled the tournament "hypocritical and biased," alleging that sports were being mixed with politics. The board had also stated that it would ban Pakistani cricketers from participating in such events in the future.
WCL authorities had attempted to secure an NOC from the PCB to allow Pakistan Champions—last year's runners-up—to compete in this year's tournament. They were even prepared to alter the match schedule. However, the PCB ultimately remained firm in its decision.

Match against Bangladesh also postponed
Although the tournament began on October 3, the match between Pakistan Champions and Bangladesh Champions scheduled for that day was postponed. The match status was later listed as "postponed due to technical reasons." Cricbuzz
Subsequently, the match between Pakistan Champions and Australia Champions, scheduled for October 5, was ultimately cancelled. 
These events effectively made it clear that there was no longer any possibility of a compromise between the PCB and the WCL authorities.
In a statement, Pakistan Champions announced that they were withdrawing from the tournament with regret, as the PCB maintained its decision not to issue the necessary NOC. At the same time, the team expressed its respect for the board's decision. 

Afridi, Hafeez, and others were in the squad.
Shahid Afridi was slated to lead the 'Pakistan Champions' team. The squad included several former Pakistani star cricketers, such as Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Wahab Riaz. However, the names of Shoaib Malik and Sarfaraz Ahmed were missing from the announced match squad, although Afridi, Hafeez, and other former stars were included.
Consequently, due to the PCB's decision regarding the NOC, the 'Pakistan Champions'' WCL campaign came to a halt before it could even begin.