PCB rejects Legends League boycott

The proposal to boycott the Legends League final has been rejected. During the PCB Governing Board meeting, it was decided to uphold the policy of keeping politics out of sports.

According to details, an emergency virtual meeting of the PCB Governing Board was held yesterday, attended by all members. The only agenda item was the World Championship of Legends. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi presided over the meeting via video call from the USA.

Sources say that the participants unanimously decided that no one would be allowed to use the name "Pakistan" in future editions of the Legends League unless permitted by the board.

Some members suggested boycotting the final match of the event, pointing out that both owners and sponsors are Indian, and in response to facing setbacks on the battlefield and within the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), India has tried to politicise sports.

The team refused to play both matches against "Pakistan Champions." After forfeiting the first match, they should not have been awarded any points, but the organisers gave them one point to help them reach the semi-finals. Since the name "Pakistan Champions" includes the country's name, members argued that Pakistan should have the final say in such matters.

However, Zaheer Abbas and several other members advised against boycotting the final, saying that Pakistan has never politicised sports and should maintain that stance. All members gave Mohsin Naqvi the authority to make the final decision, expressing confidence in his leadership following the successful handling of the recent ACC meeting. Most members agreed that the team should play the final, but future decisions about this event will be made solely by the PCB Governing Board.

The board members also congratulated Naqvi on the successful hosting of the ACC meeting, to which he responded by crediting teamwork for the achievement.