WCL Season 3 Heads To UAE; Cricket Legends Yuvraj Singh, AB de Villiers, David Warner And Shahid Afridi Set To Renew Rivalries

New Delhi, Aug 26: The World Championship of Legends (WCL) is set to return and this time its taking its nostalgia-driven cricket spectacle to a new venue. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to host Season 3 of the league as some of the biggest names from the game's recent past prepare to return to the field.

After two seasons in the UK, the third edition of WCL will be staged in the UAE for the first time, bringing together a star-studded group of former international cricketers and once again putting some of cricket's biggest rivalries at the centre of the tournament. The star-studded season will be held between October 3 and 18.

The move to the UAE marks a significant expansion for the league, which is positioning its third season as its biggest yet in terms of legends, rivalries and entertainment.

Yuvraj, AB de Villiers, Warner among star-studded cast

The third season will continue to feature some of the most recognisable names from international cricket, including Yuvraj Singh, AB de Villiers, Dwayne Bravo, Shahid Afridi and Moeen Ali.

The league will also welcome major additions, with former Australia opener David Warner and Bangladesh all-rounder Mohammad Mahmudullah joining the WCL roster.

The addition of Bangladesh Champions further expands the international representation in the tournament.

With several of the players having been at the centre of major international rivalries during their playing careers, the WCL is banking on nostalgia and familiar contests to drive interest in its third season.

India-Pakistan legends rivalry set for another chapter?

Among the rivalries that the WCL hopes to reignite, the India-Pakistan contest remains the biggest draw.

India Champions defeated Pakistan Champions in the inaugural WCL final in 2024 to claim the first title, giving the tournament an India-Pakistan finale in its very first season.

Pakistan Champions returned to the final in Season 2 in 2025, but it was South Africa Champions who lifted the trophy after defeating the Pakistan side. The Season 2 turned out to be a dampener after Indian cricketers refused to play with Pakistan in the wake of 'Operation Sindhoor' by Indian Armed Forces in the aftermath of the 2025 Pahalgam attack on Indian tourists on April 22.

With the tournament returning for a third season, fans from both countries, as well as the organisers, would be hoping for full contest between India and Pakistan this year. The marquee contest between the arch-rivals is expected to be one of the major attractions for fans.

The UAE, which has frequently hosted high-profile India-Pakistan cricket encounters, now provides the setting for the WCL to bring that nostalgia to a new home.

From UK to UAE

The decision to move the tournament from the UK to the UAE is one of the biggest changes for Season 3.

WCL founder and CEO Harshit Tomar said the UAE edition would provide fans with an experience they had not seen from the league before.

"Season 3 is going to be very special. We are taking WCL to the UAE for the first time, giving our fans an experience they have never seen before. We promise to bring the biggest names in cricket and some of the biggest surprises yet. Season 3 is going to be our biggest and most exciting season so far," Tomar said.

The UAE chapter is also intended to take WCL closer to a wider international audience while giving the league a new home for its combination of nostalgia, cricket and entertainment.

WCL banking on nostalgia and entertainment

WCL's proposition is built around giving fans an opportunity to see former international stars back in competitive cricket, recreating some of the contests that defined their careers.

Yuvraj, Afridi, de Villiers, Bravo and Moeen were all major figures in the international game, while Warner's addition brings another high-profile name with a long history of playing in major cricket rivalries.

For WCL co-owner Ajay Devgn, the league's appeal extends beyond the cricket itself.

"WCL is more than just a cricket league - it is emotion, nostalgia and entertainment coming together on one platform. Looking forward to Season 3, it's going to be our boldest season yet," Devgn said.

425 million viewers in Season 2

The league enters its third season after claiming a significant audience milestone. WCL said its second season reached 425 million viewers worldwide, providing the tournament with momentum as it expands into the UAE.

The move also comes with the promise of more teams, players and announcements, with the organisers yet to reveal the full extent of the Season 3 line-up.

The tournament is billing the new edition around a simple proposition - more legends, more rivalries and more entertainment.