On July 6, 2025, reports indicated Pakistan’s likely exclusion from the 2026 World Clubs T20 Championship due to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) failure to attend a critical London meeting, per Cricket Country.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was invited to send its CEO for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) to a meeting in London, hosted by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) with support from the International Cricket Council (ICC). However, no representative from the PCB attended the meeting. This gathering included CEOs from various leagues, such as the Big Bash, SA20, and The Hundred, and it focused on discussing the format, schedule, and player no-objection certificates (NOCs) for the World Clubs T20 event. The inaugural event aims to compete with the $400 million Saudi Cricket League and will not include teams from the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Pakistan is set to be excluded from the upcoming World Clubs T20 Championship.#Pakistan #PakistanCricket #PSL https://t.co/CaoZEcgA4U
— Republic (@republic) July 6, 2025The PCB’s absence, coupled with Chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s irregular attendance at ICC meetings, has raised concerns. This follows Pakistan’s group-stage exit in the 2024 T20 World Cup and a hybrid model for the 2025 Champions Trophy, with India’s matches in Dubai due to political tensions, per India Today.
The World Clubs T20, supported by ICC Chairman Jay Shah, is set to launch in 2026 with five teams, initially excluding the IPL, in order to compete with Saudi plans. Pakistan’s exclusion may limit the Pakistan Super League’s global reach, potentially affecting its 10 million viewership. Additionally, Pakistan’s men’s team will face India in the 2026 T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka rather than India, due to geopolitical issues. The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) absence from this tournament could lead to further isolation in cricket’s $1 billion franchise market.
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