Pakistan withdraws from over-50s World Cup in India after Mohsin Naqvi’s decision

Pakistan will not participate in the 2027 International Masters Cricket Over-50s World Cup in India after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) declined permission for the veterans’ team to travel, leaving the defending champions unable to compete for another title.

The Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA) confirmed the withdrawal after its chairman, Fawad Ijaz Khan, was informed that the team would not be allowed to participate. The decision came despite assurances from the Indian organisers regarding visas and security arrangements for Pakistani players during the tournament.

The International Masters Cricket Over-50s World Cup is scheduled to take place in Hyderabad from January 24 to February 7, 2027. Pakistan had been expected to return as defending champions after winning the previous edition in Sri Lanka in 2025.

The withdrawal is another indication of how strained relations between India and Pakistan continue to affect sporting exchanges between the neighbouring countries, even at the veterans’ level of the game.

Why Pakistan will miss the 2027 over-50s World Cup

According to Fawad Ijaz Khan, the PVCA had approached the relevant Pakistani authorities for permission to participate after receiving assurances from the Indian organisers.

The association sought clearance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Interior before making arrangements for the team’s travel. However, the request was ultimately rejected.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as PCB chairman, informed the association that permission would not be granted.

The decision meant the PVCA could not send its team to India, forcing the defending champions to withdraw from a tournament in which they had been hoping to retain their title.

Fawad Ijaz said the association had informed the organisers of its withdrawal so they could arrange an alternative team for the competition.

The development also highlights the distinction between logistical arrangements and official travel clearance. Although the Indian organisers had reportedly assured the Pakistani side of visa assistance and high-level security, those assurances were not enough to secure approval from Pakistan’s authorities.

Neither the visa arrangements nor the proposed security measures changed the final decision.

Pakistan were the defending champions after their 2025 triumph

Pakistan’s absence will be significant for a tournament that brings together experienced cricketers from several countries.

The team won the 2025 International Masters Cricket Over-50s World Cup in Sri Lanka, defeating the hosts in the final to claim the championship. The victory established Pakistan as the side to beat heading into the next edition.

The over-50s format provides an international platform for former and veteran cricketers to continue competing after their conventional professional careers. Players rely on experience, tactical awareness and game management, making these tournaments an important part of the wider cricket community.

For Pakistan, the 2027 competition represented an opportunity to defend a global title and build on the success achieved in Sri Lanka.

Instead, the team will miss the chance to compete for consecutive championships because it has not received permission to travel to the host country.

Pakistan’s withdrawal also creates a challenge for the organisers, who must adjust their plans and identify an alternative participant. The final impact on the tournament’s schedule and competitive balance will depend on the arrangements made by the organisers.

Mohsin Naqvi’s role in the decision

Mohsin Naqvi occupies two important positions in Pakistan’s administration: he is the country’s interior minister and the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

In this case, the PVCA’s request for permission to participate was rejected following communication from Naqvi, according to the association’s chairman.

The decision places the PCB at the centre of a situation involving both cricket administration and government policy. However, the reported reason for Pakistan’s absence is the lack of official permission to travel, rather than a sporting or selection-related issue.

The withdrawal should not be confused with a decision by the players to boycott the tournament. The association had pursued permission to participate and informed the organisers after the authorities declined clearance.

For veteran cricketers who had hoped to represent Pakistan internationally, the outcome removes the opportunity to defend their championship on the field.

It also demonstrates how sporting bodies can be affected by decisions that extend beyond team preparation, competition schedules and cricketing considerations.

India-Pakistan sporting relations remain complicated

India and Pakistan have a long history of intense cricketing rivalry, but bilateral sporting exchanges have become increasingly difficult amid political and diplomatic tensions.

The senior men’s teams generally meet in multinational competitions rather than regular bilateral series. Matches are also arranged at neutral venues when political circumstances prevent conventional home-and-away tours.

The absence of regular bilateral cricket has reduced opportunities for supporters to watch the two sides compete outside major international tournaments.

The latest development involves a veterans’ competition rather than a senior international event. Nevertheless, it reflects the wider difficulties associated with organising sporting events that require teams from both countries to travel across the border.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation has also faced similar issues. It recently declined to travel to India for the Asian Champions Trophy, with Bangladesh subsequently replacing Pakistan in the competition.

These cases show that the challenges are not limited to cricket. Sporting exchanges between India and Pakistan can be influenced by government permissions, travel arrangements and the broader political environment.

At the same time, the circumstances surrounding each competition can differ. The withdrawal of the veterans’ cricket team should therefore be understood specifically in the context of the permission denied for the 2027 tournament.

What Pakistan’s withdrawal means for the tournament

Pakistan’s absence removes the defending champions from the list of teams expected to compete in Hyderabad.

For the organisers, the immediate priority will be to arrange a replacement and ensure the competition proceeds as planned. The tournament is expected to feature international veterans who continue to represent their countries in age-group cricket.

For supporters, the decision means Pakistan will not have the opportunity to defend the title it won in 2025. It also removes the possibility of watching the defending champions test themselves against other experienced sides in India.

However, the withdrawal does not mean the tournament itself has been cancelled. The competition remains scheduled for January and February 2027, with further arrangements to be determined by the organisers.

The wider significance lies in the fact that even a veterans’ tournament, designed to celebrate the continuing involvement of experienced cricketers, has been affected by the strained relationship between the two countries.

Whether future editions can provide more opportunities for participation will depend on the decisions of the relevant authorities and the arrangements made by tournament organisers.

For now, Pakistan’s immediate goal of defending its over-50s world title has come to an end before the tournament begins.

Pakistan’s decision not to travel to India for the 2027 International Masters Cricket Over-50s World Cup is a setback for the defending champions and another reminder of the difficulties surrounding sporting exchanges between the neighbouring nations.

Despite the reported assurances on visas and security, the team will not participate after permission was declined following communication involving Mohsin Naqvi.

The organisers must now prepare for the tournament without the reigning champions, while Pakistan’s veterans will miss the chance to defend their 2025 crown.

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