Pakistan eSports Federation (PESF) has replaced Pakistan PUBG Mobile team ASi8 with another team, 52 eSports, for the World eSports Championship (WEC) 2024 without any official confirmation.
As per the details, Team Asi8 topped the Pakistan as well as regional qualifiers for the WEC whereas 52 was in the 2nd spot. However, the federation decided to replace Asi8, prompting severe criticism from the gaming community, including the owner of the Asi8, Shehbaz Mengal.
Why did this happen?
Team Asi8 has qualified for the WEC and PUBG Mobile Global Championship (PMGC), and both events are scheduled for November of this year. PMGC will start from October 31 to December 8, while WEC is planned for November 11 to November 18.
A total of 48 teams around the world participated in the PMGC, and the event was divided into three groups (Group Yellow, Green and Red) with 16 teams in each. Group stage matches of PMGC will start from October 30 to November 16, but the dates for each group have yet to be announced.
The groups will be announced on Thursday, October 17.
How can Asi8 play both events (WEC and PMGC)?
If team i8 is placed in the yellow or green group in PMGC, their matches could end before November 11 (Before starting WEC), and they could easily participate in WEC.
PESF statement on WEC 2024:
PESF announced on October 15, “We regret to inform our community that team asi8, The champions of both our national qualifiers and the Regional qualifiers for week 2024, will not be able to represent Pakistan at the world esports Championship (we) in Riyadh this year. Asi8 is Facing a scheduling conflict due to its participation On page 2024, which overlaps with the week 2024 dates. As per the official rules, the second-place team from Our national qualifiers will step in to represent Pakistan. We are proud to announce that 52 esports Who secured the runner-up position will be taking Asi8’s place at WC 2024. We have full confidence in 52 esports, who have shown exceptional skill throughout the qualifiers. We Hope they continue to represent Pakistan’s talent on The global stage. Asi8’s achievements are highly appreciated, and we wish them success. We look forward To seeing both teams make us proud. Let’s support 52 esports as they carry our flag in Riyadh!”
Criticism of PESF:
Team Asi8 owner TRYNDA (Shehbaz Mengal) shared an Instagram story stating, “Regarding the IESF tournament, initially, PESF officials told us not to use the AS logo on our jerseys. If we wanted to use it, we’d have to get AS to sponsor PESF separately because it’s PESF’s slot, not i8’s. I discussed this with IESF, but they said it’s our federation’s decision.”
“I then requested permission. PESF officials stated that any sponsors would pay them to select a lineup representing our country, not i8. However, the prize leveraging my experience as a pool would be i8’s. We agreed to this. Later, they asked us to choose between PMGC and the World Cup due to scheduling conflicts. I requested confirmation of dates, but they didn’t know the exact dates. However, they responded that it was their slot, and I had no say in it. At least they should have waited for the PMGC draws or permitted us to create a lineup that can perform internationally. After all, sponsors pay PESF, and prize money goes to players; we don’t benefit but enhance our country’s reputation,” he further added.
Another eSports creator, TeenWolf, stated on Instagram, “Unprofessional, team ka slot ha apna slot banaya hua hai.”
What are the team stats, and which team should participate in WEC?
Team i8 has been one of the best teams in Pakistan in the last few years and has won many national events, including (PMCO 2021, PMPL Fall 2022, PMPL Sring 2023, PMPL Fall 2023) and PMCO South Asia. Asi8 has already participated in PMGC 2022 and 2023. In PMGC 2022, i8 made an unbelievable comeback of the event’s history in the last match of the survival stage.
On the other hand, 52 won PMPL Pakistan spring 2022 and qualified for the PMWI 2022, where they finished in the last spot.
We don’t have any issue with Team 52 as they will represent the Pakistani flag on the global stage in WEC, but PESF should have waited for the official announcement and dates of the PMGC group stage matches.
Also, the slot for WEC was won by team i8, so PESF should have asked the team asi8 owner if they wanted to withdraw from the WEC or permitted them to make another lineup under their tag.
