Karachi, October 20,2026: Defending champions Pakistan will not participate in next year’s International Masters Cricket (IMC) Over-50s Cricket World Cup in India after the government declined to grant permission for the team’s participation, Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA) Chairman Fawad Ijaz Khan confirmed on Tuesday.
The fifth edition of the tournament is scheduled to take place from January 23 to February 7, 2027, in Hyderabad, India. Pakistan were due to defend the title they won last year after defeating Sri Lanka in the final.
According to Fawad, the host country had assured the PVCA that visas would be granted to the Pakistani team and that high-level security arrangements would be provided.
Following these assurances, the association had sought permission from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior to send the national team to the tournament.
However, Fawad said Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who also chairs the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), informed the association that the government would not permit Pakistan’s participation.
The PVCA chairman said the association respected the government’s decision and would abide by it, but expressed disappointment that Pakistan would be unable to defend its title on the international stage. He also extended his best wishes to the tournament organisers and participating teams.
Pakistan’s withdrawal comes amid continuing cricketing tensions between Pakistan and India, whose cricket boards have faced disagreements over the hosting and participation arrangements for international tournaments.
The dispute intensified when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) declined to send its team to Pakistan for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy in early 2025.
The PCB subsequently agreed to a hybrid arrangement under which Pakistan and India would not travel to each other’s countries for ICC events during the 2024–2027 cycle, with their matches to be played at neutral venues.
Under the arrangement, Pakistan played their matches in Sri Lanka during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup earlier this year, which was co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The highly anticipated Pakistan-India fixture was held in Colombo.
Tensions have also affected other sporting events involving the two countries.
In September, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) declined to send its national team to India for the upcoming Men’s Asian Champions Trophy, seeking either relocation of the tournament or the transfer of Pakistan’s matches to a neutral venue.
The Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) subsequently replaced Pakistan with Bangladesh in the six-team competition, scheduled to take place in Jalandhar and Mohali from October 27 to November 5.
Pakistan’s absence from the Over-50s Cricket World Cup means the defending champions will not have the opportunity to retain their title, while the decision adds to the list of sporting events affected by participation and hosting disputes between the neighbouring countries.
