World Championship of Legends 2026: Schedule, Squads and Timings

Yuvraj, Gayle and De Villiers in the UAE as Pakistan's WCL Place Hangs in the Balance

What is the World Championship of Legends?

A T20 tournament for retired international stars, playing as national teams like "India Champions" and "Australia Champions". This is its third season, and the first held outside England.

When and where is it?

October 3 to 18, 2026, at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium and Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the UAE. There are 24 matches, with the final in Sharjah on October 18.

Is Pakistan playing?

It is uncertain. Reports say the Pakistan Cricket Board has not yet cleared its players to take part, so Pakistan Champions' fixtures could change.

The Story: Old Rivals, New Home, Big Question Mark

The World Championship of Legends has become one of cricket's most popular nostalgia events, bringing back the stars fans grew up watching. For its third season, it has moved from England to the UAE, with seven teams of former internationals competing for the title.

For readers new to this kind of event: these are not current national teams. They are teams of retired players who once represented their countries, playing T20 cricket (20 overs per side). The matches are competitive, but much of the appeal is seeing old heroes and old rivalries again.

The tournament gets underway on Saturday, October 3 in Sharjah, with India Champions taking on Australia Champions in the opening match, followed by Pakistan Champions vs Bangladesh Champions in the evening. But one big question hangs over the start of the season.

Will Pakistan Champions Play?

Pakistan Champions are listed in the schedule, with their first game against Bangladesh Champions on opening night. But their participation is far from certain.

The issue appears to be permission. Pakistan's players need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Pakistan Cricket Board to take part in overseas events, and reports say those certificates have not been issued. The Pakistan Champions owner has said he remains hopeful the PCB will grant clearance.

The dispute goes back to last year. At the 2025 World Championship of Legends in England, India Champions refused to play Pakistan Champions twice, once in the league stage and again in the semi-final. The PCB objected to how those matches were handled and announced in August 2025 that it would block future participation in the event.

There were other warning signs this week. At the official captains' event, Bangladesh's Imrul Kayes, South Africa's AB de Villiers, India's Harbhajan Singh and West Indies' Chris Gayle all attended, but no one represented Pakistan Champions.

What It Means for India vs Pakistan

The biggest fixture of the tournament, India Champions vs Pakistan Champions on October 10 in Dubai, is now in serious doubt. If Pakistan Champions do not take part, all six of their league matches would need to be cancelled or rearranged, and the tournament would effectively become a six-team event.

Cricket Daily will update this guide as soon as the organisers confirm Pakistan's status.

The Teams and Their Big Names

India Champions: The inaugural champions from 2024. Captained by Yuvraj Singh, with Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh and Piyush Chawla.

Pakistan Champions: Runners-up in both previous seasons. Their listed squad features captain Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz, subject to the NOC situation.

South Africa Champions: The defending champions, who beat Pakistan Champions in the 2025 final. Led by the brilliant AB de Villiers.

Australia Champions: David Warner makes his World Championship of Legends debut.

West Indies Champions: Featuring the "Universe Boss" himself, Chris Gayle, alongside Dwayne Bravo.

England Champions: Squad lists include Jason Roy, Dawid Malan, Moeen Ali and Ravi Bopara.

Bangladesh Champions: Making their debut this season, captained by Imrul Kayes and featuring Shakib Al Hasan.

How the Tournament Works

The seven teams play each other once in a round-robin league of 21 matches. The top four go through to the semi-finals on October 16, and the final is on October 18 in Sharjah. That makes 24 matches in total.

Full Schedule (UAE, IST and ET)

Local time is Gulf Standard Time (GST, UTC+4). IST is India Standard Time (UTC+5:30) and ET is US Eastern Time (EDT, UTC-4). There are two daily start times. The afternoon game starts at 3:30 PM GST, which is 5:00 PM IST and 7:30 AM ET. The evening game starts at 7:30 PM GST, which is 9:00 PM IST and 11:30 AM ET.

Matches involving Pakistan Champions are marked with an asterisk (*) and may change.

📄 Download the full WCL 2026 schedule as a PDF to save or share.

Where to Watch

In India, the tournament is shown on Star Sports on TV and streamed on the FanCode app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pakistan playing in the World Championship of Legends 2026?

It is unclear. Reports say the PCB has not yet given its players permission to take part, so their matches could be cancelled or rescheduled.

When is India Champions vs Pakistan Champions?

It is scheduled for Saturday, October 10 at 7:30 PM local time in Dubai (9:00 PM IST, 11:30 AM ET), but the game is in doubt.

Who won the previous World Championship of Legends titles?

India Champions won the first edition in 2024, and South Africa Champions won in 2025, beating Pakistan Champions in the final.

Who are the big names playing in WCL 2026?

Stars include Yuvraj Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, David Warner, Shakib Al Hasan and Shahid Afridi.

When is the WCL 2026 final?

Sunday, October 18 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, starting at 3:30 PM local time (5:00 PM IST, 7:30 AM ET).

Related Guides and Series Coverage

📋 T20 Cricket Explained: Rules, Format and How It Works

📋 Cricket World Cup 2027 Schedule: Groups, Fixtures and Format

📋 ILT20 Auction 2026: Top Buys and Full Squads

📋 Net Run Rate Explained