Following the World Championships of Legends (WCL) event, where Indian players declined to compete against the ‘Pakistan Champions,’ the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is prohibiting the use of the nation’s name in teams participating in private cricket leagues.
According to Telecom Asia Sport, the PCB resolved to stop private cricket leagues from using the country’s name following the ongoing WCL in the UK, which was presented as a conflict between India and Pakistan.
Sources told Telecom Asia Sport on Friday, The decision was made after a long discussion at Thursday’s Board of Directors meeting. Top officials thought it was damaging to the country’s image that Indian players twice declined to play Pakistan in the WCL’s second edition.
In the future, no private organization will be granted permission to use the country’s name for private leagues. The current Pakistan Legends team, on the other hand, will be permitted to compete in Saturday’s final against South Africa.
According to reports, several private organizations have used Pakistan’s name in small and low- leagues in Zimbabwe, Kenya, and the United States.
If any private organizations use Pakistan’s name, they will face legal action. The PCB has the exclusive right to permit its use for cricket events if it finds the League and organization to be trustworthy, a source close to the PCB stated.
The Pakistan government and the IPC (Inter-provincial coordination committee), which oversees sports in the country, have also sent the PCB advice to restrict the use of the country’s name in private cricket leagues going forward.