Table of Contents
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is likely to impose a multi-year ban on some of its former cricketers who took part recently in an unsanctioned cricket tournament named Asian Legends League in Zambia.
The T20 league hosts multiple franchises across Asian countries with their former cricketers, including multiple legends. Former cricketers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan were named for the Asian Legends League.
Zambia Cricket Union's statement complicated the Asian Legends League status
All of the matches were scheduled to be played in Zambia. Last week, the Zambia Cricket Union stated that the league was "not sanctioned, approved or endorsed" by them.
After the statement from the Zambia Cricket Union, the nation's cricket managing board, the Pakistan Cricket Board, issued a statement in which they mentioned that the former cricketers, who played in the tournament without prior approval from them, would be served a two-year ban.
The two-year ban will bar all of those former Pakistan cricketers from taking over any role, either for the national team or for the Pakistan Super League. There was a team named Pakistan Panthers, dedicated exclusively to former Pakistani cricketers.
Pakistan Panthers played two matches in the Asian Legends League 2026
The team took part in a couple of matches. According to PCB's statement, players who played in the league will come under notice. The originally announced Pakistan Panthers' squad had stars like Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez, Wahab Riaz and multiple other notable names who represented the national cricket team in the past.
Previously announced Pakistan Panthers squad for the Asian Legends League: Sharjeel Khan, Sami Aslam, Imran Nazir, Naved-ul-Hasan, Rana Anwar, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Abdur Rehman, Yasir Shah, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Irfan, Rahat Ali, Wahab Riaz, Saeed Ajmal.
Which players could be banned by PCB?
ESPNCricinfo, in their report, claimed that Mohammad Hafeez, Sohail Tanvir, and Umar Akmal arrived in Lusaka but changed their minds as soon as they learnt approval from the International Cricket Council (ICC) was not forthcoming.
"In light of the above, the following disciplinary measures will be taken on individuals found to have participated in the said unsanctioned event without obtaining the requisite approvals from the PCB," the PCB statement reads.
"A ban of two years from the issuance of any PCB No Objection Certificate (NOC) for participation in approved overseas cricket leagues or events. [And] Ineligibility for any cricketing, coaching, consultancy, mentoring and/or other assignments with the PCB and the PSL for a period of two years," it added.
Yasir Butt, Imran Nazir, Yasir Shah, Hamza Ali, and Hasan Raza were among the few players who took the field for the Pakistan Panthers in the Asian Legends League 2026. If the board applies the ban in real life, then the players who played for the Panthers in the league could be the only players to be punished with a 2-year ban.
The expected follow-ups in response to the cricket board's official release will clear the situation. Players who played in those two matches are likely to communicate with the Pakistan Cricket Board regarding the matter.
