Pakistan has withdrawn from the IMC Over-50s Cricket World Cup 2027 in Hyderabad, India, after the government declined to approve the team’s travel to India, the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA) announced on Tuesday.
PVCA Chairman Fawad Ijaz Khan said the association had asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Interior for permission. The request followed assurances from Veterans Cricket India that Pakistani players would receive visas and high-level security at the tournament, which runs from January 23 to February 7. Interior Minister and Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi later informed the association that permission could not be granted.
Pakistan’s title defence and official silence
Pakistan had been scheduled to defend the crown it won in Colombo in 2025, when it beat The Lions by six wickets in the final, chasing 234 in 44.1 overs. The government has not said publicly whether wider tensions with India shaped its decision.
Political strain spilling into cricket ties
Relations between the two countries have been strained since their military confrontation in May 2025, and cricket has been especially sensitive. India’s men’s team refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council Chairman Mohsin Naqvi after winning the tournament in Dubai in September 2025. A similar episode occurred in September 2026, when India’s women’s team also declined to take the Women’s Asia Cup trophy from Naqvi.
Neither the PVCA nor the government has linked those incidents to the veterans’ withdrawal. Pakistan and India have largely avoided visiting each other’s countries for major events, and neutral venues are increasingly used for their matches. An arrangement reached before the 2025 Champions Trophy sees the pair meet at neutral venues in ICC events through 2027.
What the withdrawal means for the veterans’ title
For the PVCA, the decision means Pakistan will give up the chance to defend its Over-50s world title, despite assurances from Indian organisers on visas and security.
