BIRMINGHAM, July 20 — The high-profile veterans’ cricket match between India and Pakistan at the World Championship of Legends (WCL) was cancelled on Sunday after senior Indian players, including Shikhar Dhawan, opted out, citing the April terror attack in Pahalgam and the subsequent geopolitical tension.
The match, originally scheduled as part of the second edition of the England and Wales Cricket Board-backed tournament, was called off after Dhawan and several other Indian legends refused to participate.
“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,” read Dhawan’s statement on X. “This decision was communicated earlier during our discussion on call and WhatsApp dated 11th May 2025.”
Dhawan, who captained India Champions in last year’s tournament, referred to the current climate following the Pahalgam attack, in which 26 tourists were killed, and the subsequent Operation Sindoor. The military operation resulted in a brief India-Pakistan standoff before New Delhi agreed to a ceasefire request from Islamabad.
“In view of the current geopolitical situation and the prevailing tensions between India and Pakistan, Mr. Dhawan and his team have taken this position after due consideration. We respectfully request the league’s understanding and cooperation on this matter,” the statement added.
The WCL organisers issued a formal apology and announced the cancellation of the marquee clash.
“After hearing the news that the Pakistan hockey team will be coming to India this year, and seeing the recent India vs Pakistan volleyball match along with a few other fixtures… we thought of continuing with the India vs Pakistan match at WCL, just to create some happy memories for people around the globe,” the tournament’s organisers said in a statement on X. “But maybe in the process, we ended up hurting the feelings of many and stirring emotions.”
They further clarified, “We sincerely apologise again for hurting the sentiments and hope people will understand that all we ever wanted was to bring a few happy moments to the fans.”
The India Champions squad also included Yuvraj Singh (captain), Harbhajan Singh, Yusuf and Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa, and Varun Aaron. Harbhajan, who currently serves in the Rajya Sabha, and brothers Yusuf and Irfan Pathan—both Members of Parliament—also conveyed their intent to boycott the fixture, although they have yet to issue public statements.
The Pakistan Champions were to be led by Shahid Afridi, with Younis Khan, Wahab Riaz, Kamran Akmal, and Sohail Tanvir among others.
India won the inaugural edition of the six-team tournament in Edgbaston last year, defeating Pakistan by five wickets in the final.
While India and Pakistan do not engage in bilateral cricket due to strained diplomatic ties, the two nations occasionally face each other in multi-nation events. The Indian government, in adherence with the Olympic Charter, has cleared Pakistan’s participation in several major international sporting events scheduled to be held in India this year — including the Hockey Asia Cup (August), Junior Shooting World Cup (September), World Para Athletics Championships (October), and Junior Hockey World Cup (November–December).
The Olympic Charter’s Rule 44 prohibits exclusion of athletes on political grounds, with violations potentially leading to the loss of hosting rights or international sanctions.
In cricket, bilateral series remain off the table. India and Pakistan’s encounters are now largely restricted to ICC events. This year’s ICC Champions Trophy was played under a hybrid model, with India playing its matches in Dubai while Pakistan hosted the rest.
That model will continue into the Women’s ODI World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with Pakistan’s matches set for Colombo. However, uncertainty still surrounds the upcoming men’s Asia Cup, tentatively scheduled for September, as a venue for the India-Pakistan clash is yet to be finalised.
The BCCI has firmly stated that it will not attend any Asian Cricket Council meeting hosted in Dhaka, putting discussions over the tournament’s structure on hold.
