Pakistan withdraws from ODI World Cup 2027 after failing to receive government permission
Published 1 hour ago | By Nouman Shakeel
Pakistan’s Over-50 cricket team will not participate in the World Cup scheduled to be held in India next year. The defending champions have decided to withdraw from the tournament after failing to receive government clearance to travel to India.
According to Fawad Ijaz Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association, formal permission for the national team’s participation was sought from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Interior; however, the government did not grant approval.
Fawad Ijaz Khan stated that the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi informed the association that the team would not be able to travel to India. Following this, the association decided to abide by the government’s directives and opted not to participate in the World Cup.
Participation proved impossible despite assurances regarding visas and security
According to the association’s chairman, Indian veterans' cricket authorities had provided assurances that visas would be issued to the Pakistani players and that high-level security would be provided. Despite these assurances, the Pakistan team will be unable to participate in the event due to the lack of government clearance.
Pakistan was the defending champion from the previous edition
The Over-50 Cricket World Cup is scheduled to take place in the Indian city of Hyderabad (Deccan) from January 23 to February 7. Pakistan won the title in the previous edition—held in Sri Lanka in 2025—and was set to defend its global title in the upcoming tournament.
Fawad Ijaz Khan expressed regret over the missed opportunity to defend the title and extended his best wishes to the tournament organizers and the participating teams.
