The Pakistan Super League champions may miss out on the inaugural World Clubs T20 event in 2026, as PCB skips crucial planning meeting in London amid ICC push to counter Saudi-backed cricket league.
July-7, 2025: London/Islamabad — Pakistan is likely to be excluded from the ICC-backed World Clubs T20 Championship, which is expected to debut next year. The omission appears linked to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) absence from a key meeting in London last month where CEOs of major T20 leagues convened to discuss the tournament’s structure.
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The new global T20 league — being fast-tracked with ICC Chairman Jay Shah’s support — aims to bring together top franchise teams from around the world, with backing from several major cricket boards. According to sources, while PCB was invited to send the CEO of Pakistan Super League (PSL) for the strategy session, no representative turned up.
Who Attended the London Meeting?
The meeting, hosted alongside the ICC’s Cricket Connect initiative, saw participation from league heads of:
- Emirates T20 League (ILT20)
- Big Bash League (Australia)
- SA20 (South Africa)
- The Hundred (England & Wales)
- Major League Cricket (USA)
- Caribbean Premier League (West Indies)
While Pakistan was invited, it was not represented — a move that may cost the PSL a spot in the prestigious upcoming tournament.
No IPL Participation Initially
Interestingly, the source also confirmed that the Indian Premier League (IPL) — despite its massive influence — will not participate in the inaugural edition, though the BCCI supports the concept. The initial tournament is expected to feature five elite franchise teams from participating leagues, excluding both IPL and PSL.
Strategic Move Against Saudi Cricket League?
Industry insiders believe that the urgency behind the tournament stems from the emergence of the Saudi Cricket League, which is being privately backed with an initial $400 million investment. The Saudi initiative aims to create a Grand Slam-like cricket model, potentially challenging existing leagues.
To counter this, cricket boards are uniting under the ICC umbrella to establish fixed international windows, streamline player NOCs, and ensure cooperation across leagues — all of which were discussed in the London meeting.
PCB’s Silence Raises Eyebrows
The PCB’s non-participation has drawn criticism internally and externally. Insiders note that Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has also skipped multiple ICC meetings, raising concerns about Pakistan’s diminishing influence in global cricket governance. With the PSL already struggling to compete with richer leagues, missing this global stage could further isolate Pakistan’s cricket economy.
As cricket continues to globalize, the World Clubs T20 Championship could emerge as a marquee franchise tournament — and Pakistan’s absence may become a costly oversight.
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Pakistan Cricket Board, World Clubs T20 Championship, ICC, PSL, Jay Shah, Mohsin Naqvi, Saudi Cricket League, T20 leagues, IPL, Big Bash, MLC, cricket news, Pakistan excluded cricket tournament