India vs Pakistan Match Cancelled: WCL Explains Why Game Was Scheduled Despite Shikhar Dhawan’s Prior Stand
The highly anticipated veterans’ clash between India and Pakistan at the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 was officially cancelled after multiple Indian players, including former captain Shikhar Dhawan, chose to withdraw in protest of the Pahalgam terror attack in April. The incident, which claimed the lives of Indian security personnel, prompted a strong reaction from several former cricketers who felt that participating in a game against Pakistan would be inappropriate under the circumstances. India vs Pakistan Match Cancelled
Shikhar Dhawan Had Communicated His Decision in May
What makes the situation particularly controversial is the fact that Dhawan had informed the WCL organisers as early as May that he would not participate in any fixture against Pakistan. His stance was rooted in a personal sense of national duty and moral responsibility following the terror incident in Jammu and Kashmir.
Reiterating his decision on Saturday, Dhawan said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter):
“This is to formally reiterate and confirm that I will not be participating in any matches against Pakistan.”
His post, which gained massive support online, was soon echoed by other Indian legends including Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, and Yusuf Pathan, all of whom followed suit and opted out of the match. This wave of withdrawals left the WCL with no choice but to call off the high-profile fixture scheduled for Sunday in Birmingham. India vs Pakistan Match Cancelled
WCL’s Justification for Scheduling the Match
Facing criticism from both the cricketing fraternity and fans, the WCL issued a clarification on why the India vs Pakistan match was scheduled in the first place. The organisers cited recent sporting interactions between the two nations in disciplines like volleyball and hockey as the basis for their decision. India vs Pakistan Match Cancelled
In a post on X, the WCL stated:
“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 between the two nations in different sports, we thought of continuing with the India vs Pakistan match at WCL – just to create some happy memories for people around the globe.” India vs Pakistan Match Cancelled
Dear all , pic.twitter.com/ViIlA3ZrLl
— World Championship Of Legends (@WclLeague) July 19, 2025
The organisers also acknowledged that the decision may have been misjudged in light of the sensitive political climate and ongoing public emotions. India vs Pakistan Match Cancelled
“But maybe in the process, we ended up hurting the feelings of many and stirring emotions. We sincerely apologise for unintentionally causing discomfort.” India vs Pakistan Match Cancelled
Emotional and Political Undertones Overshadow Cricket
The cancellation has triggered a larger debate over the place of sports in diplomatic relations. While cricket has often acted as a bridge between India and Pakistan, the timing of the match—so soon after a terror attack—proved too controversial to overlook. India vs Pakistan Match Cancelled
This isn’t the first time sport and politics have collided in South Asia, but the incident marks a significant moment in veterans’ cricket. The fact that Dhawan had made his position clear well in advance has raised questions about communication gaps and decision-making at the administrative level within WCL.
India’s Past Victory Adds to Disappointment
India defeated Pakistan by five wickets in the WCL’s inaugural edition last year, also held in Birmingham. That contest was lauded for its sportsmanship and nostalgia, and expectations for this year’s encounter were high. With veterans like Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa, and Varun Aaron in the squad, the match promised to be a crowd-puller. India vs Pakistan Match Cancelled
WCL Looks to Regain Trust
The WCL now faces the challenge of rebuilding its image following this setback. Organisers have expressed a renewed commitment to “respecting the sentiments of players and fans” going forward.India vs Pakistan Match Cancelled
Whether or not future India vs Pakistan matches—especially in the legends’ circuit—will be reconsidered under current geopolitical tensions remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: in today’s climate, the cricketing world can no longer ignore the larger political context in which the game is played.
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