The World Championship of Legends (WCL) has canceled its highly anticipated India vs Pakistan match following significant backlash from Indian cricket legends and sponsors. The decision comes after former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan and others, including Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina, and Yusuf Pathan, refused to participate, citing geopolitical tensions heightened by the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 civilian lives in Jammu and Kashmir. The attack, attributed to The Resistance Front, believed to be linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, intensified public sentiment against the fixture.
WCL organizers, sanctioned by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), had scheduled the match for July 20, 2025, at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham as part of the tournament running from July 18 to August 2 across four UK venues: Birmingham, Northampton, Leicester, and Leeds. The event features retired international stars, with India Champions, led by Yuvraj Singh, defending their title after defeating Pakistan in the 2024 final.
The decision to include the India-Pakistan game was inspired by a recent friendly volleyball match between the two nations, with organizers hoping to create “happy memories” for fans. However, the announcement sparked widespread criticism, particularly after controversial remarks by Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi, who was set to play for Pakistan Champions. Afridi’s statements blaming India for the Pahalgam attack fueled public anger, prompting sponsor EaseMyTrip to withdraw support for any WCL matches involving Pakistan. The company, a long-term WCL sponsor, emphasized its commitment to Team India but clarified its stance against participating in fixtures featuring Pakistan, stating, “Bharat First. Always.”
Shikhar Dhawan publicly reaffirmed his decision to boycott the match, sharing an email sent to WCL organizers on May 11, 2025, where he cited geopolitical tensions as his reason for opting out. “Jo kadam 11 May ko liya, uspe aaj bhi waise hi khada hoon. Mera desh mere liye sab kuch hai, aur desh se badhkar kuch nahi hota,” Dhawan posted on X, translating to, “I stand by the decision I took on May 11. My country is everything to me, and nothing is above it.”
ALSO READ : Deepti Sharma Credits Rishabh Pant After Smashing Viral One-Handed Sixer in England
Facing mounting pressure, WCL issued a public apology, acknowledging that the match announcement “ended up hurting the feelings of many” and caused discomfort to Indian players and sponsors. “We deeply regret the emotional distress caused and apologise for the inconvenience,” the organizers stated, confirming the cancellation of the fixture. While the group-stage match has been scrapped, there remains a possibility that India and Pakistan could face off in the tournament’s later stages, depending on their progression.