Pakistan will skip the 2027 Over-50 Cricket World Cup hosted in India because the squad failed to obtain official government clearance for the trip.
Matches will take place from January 23 to February 7, 2027, in Hyderabad, India. The Pakistani team entered the competition as the defending champions following their victory at the 2025 tournament in Sri Lanka.
Fawad Ejaz Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association, verified that the squad will not make the journey across the border. He noted that Indian veterans cricket administrators promised proper visa issuance and top-tier security for the competition.
The association applied for clearance from both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Interior, according to Fawad Ejaz. Yet, Mohsin Naqvi, who serves as Federal Interior Minister and Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, communicated that authorities would withhold approval.
Fawad mentioned that the association accepts the ruling from authorities and called off their trip to the World Cup.
He shared his sadness over losing the chance to defend the international crown. At the same time, he offered good luck to the event planners and competing squads.
Because of this withdrawal, the reigning champions lose the opportunity to defend the trophy they captured in Sri Lanka during 2025.
