India vs Pakistan WCL Match Cancelled
WCL 2025 match between India and Pakistan Legends canceled due to Indian players’ boycott over geopolitical tensions. Full details and tournament updates.
India vs Pakistan WCL Legends Match Called Off Amid Tensions
A highly anticipated cricket match between India and Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) was canceled just hours before it was set to begin. The reason? Key Indian players, including team captain Shikhar Dhawan, refused to participate due to recent geopolitical tensions between the two nations.
The WCL, launched in July 2025, is an international T20 tournament featuring retired international players. It began on July 18 in Birmingham, England, and promised fans nostalgic matchups between legendary cricket stars. However, the decision to schedule an India vs Pakistan clash sparked controversy and ultimately led to its cancellation.
What Happened?
On Sunday, July 20, WCL officials issued a public statement via X (formerly Twitter) confirming the cancellation:
“We have decided to call off the India vs Pakistan match.”
Organizers claimed that the match was intended to promote goodwill based on “recent positive developments” between India and Pakistan. However, events took a sharp turn when Indian players chose to boycott the fixture.
Who Pulled Out and Why?
Several top names from the India Champions team stepped down from the match, citing personal and national concerns. The list includes:
- Shikhar Dhawan (Captain)
- Harbhajan Singh
- Yusuf Pathan
- Irfan Pathan
- Suresh Raina (unconfirmed)
These players cited solidarity with victims of the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025 and expressed unwillingness to play against Pakistan under the current geopolitical climate.
Dhawan, in a heartfelt statement on X, said:
“Desh se badhkar kuch nahi hota. I won’t participate in any game against Pakistan.”
This sentiment was echoed by other team members, leading to a cascade of withdrawals.
WCL’s Response
The organizers issued an apology, stating:
“We recognize that our decision to stage this match ended up hurting the feelings of many… It was never our intention to cause discomfort.”
They added that the match was arranged in “good faith” to support bilateral sports diplomacy, but respected the players’ decisions and public sentiment.
Impact on Tournament
With India refusing to play, the match was awarded a “no result.” This impacts the WCL 2025 points table as follows:
| Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | No Result | Points | Net RR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan Champions | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | +0.250 |
| South Africa Champions | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +0.091 |
| Australia Champions | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.000 |
| India Champions | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.000 |
India’s next match is against South Africa Champions on July 22. The team must win to stay competitive in the race for the semifinals.
Fan Reaction and Media Buzz
The decision sparked a massive reaction on social media. Fans were divided — many supported the players, praising their patriotism, while others criticized the politicization of sports.
Sponsors also pulled out from related promotions. WCL faced intense media scrutiny for not anticipating this fallout.
Cricket experts questioned the timing of the match. Given the sensitive backdrop of April’s terror incident, some called the fixture “misjudged”.
Looking Ahead
While this match won’t be rescheduled, it raises questions about future India-Pakistan fixtures in upcoming events like the Asia Cup and ICC T20 World Cup.
For now, WCL continues with other matches. The full schedule remains unchanged, except for the canceled match. Organizers are working to regain trust and ensure no further controversy arises.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.