India vs Pakistan Match Cancelled! Legends Walk Out, WCL Left Embarrassed
India vs Pakistan WCL match cancelled after legends pull out over tensions; WCL issues emotional apology.
The much-hyped India vs Pakistan match at the World Championship of Legends 2025 has been officially cancelled.
The game was scheduled for July 20 at Edgbaston, Birmingham, but organisers called it off late Saturday night, citing emotional sentiments and public backlash.
In a statement, the WCL admitted that their decision to host the match may have hurt feelings.
“We only wanted to give fans good, happy memories. But maybe we ended up stirring emotions,” the organisers said.
Dhawan Confirms Withdrawal
Shikhar Dhawan, who was part of the Indian squad for the WCL, also confirmed his decision to not play against Pakistan. He issued a public statement on social media, saying:
“This is to formally reiterate and confirm that Mr. Shikhar Dhawan will not be participating in any matches against the Pakistan team in the upcoming WCL League. This decision was communicated earlier during our discussion on call and WhatsApp dated 11th May 2025.”
Dhawan mentioned that the call was taken after considering the current geopolitical situation and ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan.
Harbhajan, Irfan, Yusuf Had Already Pulled Out
The controversy started earlier this week when Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, and Yusuf Pathan withdrew from the match. Their decision came in the wake of the Pahalgam attack, which led to strong emotions across the country and mounting pressure on players to boycott games involving Pakistan.
The Indian WCL squad also features big names like Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Stuart Binny, and Varun Aaron, among others. However, with the legends walking out and the heat on social media increasing, the organisers had little choice but to pull the plug.
WCL Issues Apology
In their apology, the WCL pointed to recent India-Pakistan sports fixtures, including hockey and volleyball, to justify their initial decision. But the league admitted they may have misread the mood.
“We at WCL have always cherished and loved cricket. After hearing about the Pakistan hockey team visiting India and the India vs Pakistan volleyball match, we thought of continuing with this match. But we understand now that we may have hurt sentiments,” the statement read.
As of now, there’s no word on whether a replacement fixture will be scheduled.
