WCL 2025: India-Pakistan match called off as Indian cricketers withdraw

Published - 20 Jul 2025, 09:19 IST | Updated - 20 Jul 2025, 09:25 IST

The World Championship of Legends (WCL) has officially called off the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan fixture, issuing a public apology for "hurting public sentiment" and "causing discomfort" to Indian cricket legends.

In a formal statement, the WCL explained that the decision to schedule the India-Pakistan match was inspired by a recent friendly volleyball encounter between the two nations, with the aim of creating happy memories for fans. However, they admitted that the announcement ended up hurting the feelings of many and caused unease among Indian players.

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Shikhar Dhawan opts out of India vs Pakistan tie in WCL 2025

The move comes amid strong resistance from Indian cricketers. Former Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan released a statement reaffirming his decision to not play against Pakistan. He also shared an email he had sent to the WCL organisers on May 11, in which he clearly stated his refusal to participate in the match due to the prevailing geopolitical tensions.

Former India star Suresh Raina echoed a similar stance. Sources suggest that several other Indian legends also privately communicated their concerns to the organisers. Adding to the pressure, WCL sponsor EaseMyTrip issued a strong statement distancing itself from any fixture involving Pakistan.

This is not the first controversy involving India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor. On May 24, during the Junior Davis Cup, a heated moment occurred after India defeated Pakistan in the U-16 tournament. A video clip surfaced showing a Pakistani player behaving in an unsportsmanlike manner during the post-match handshake, initially missing the Indian players and then completing the handshake with a disrespectful shake-off gesture.

Despite the cancelled fixture, WCL 2025, sanctioned by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), is scheduled to run from July 18 to August 2 across four venues in England, Birmingham, Northampton, Leicester, and Leeds. The tournament will feature retired international stars representing their respective countries.