What was meant to be a nostalgic, high-voltage sporting spectacle between India and Pakistan’s cricketing greats has been shelved, with the organisers of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) deciding to call off the much-anticipated fixture, scheduled for Sunday at Edgbaston Cricket Ground.
The abrupt cancellation follows a series of high-profile withdrawals from the Indian side and mounting public anger over staging such a match in the wake of simmering tensions between the two countries.
In a statement issued late Saturday night, the WCL acknowledged that the decision to host the game may have backfired. “We at WCL have always cherished and loved cricket, and our only aim has been to give fans some good, happy moments. 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. But maybe in the process, we ended up hurting the feelings of many and stirring emotions,” the statement read.
Veteran Indian cricketers, including Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, and brothers Irfan and Yusuf Pathan, had already opted out of the contest. Their exit underscored the deep discomfort over sporting engagements with Pakistan amid fraught diplomatic relations and fresh wounds from recent violence in Pahalgam.
Shikhar Dhawan clarified his position via social media, releasing a statement across platforms late Saturday night. “This is to formally reiterate and confirm that 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," read the post shared on both Twitter and Instagram.
Citing current geopolitical sensitivities, the statement added, “In view of the current geopolitical situation and the prevailing tensions between India and Pakistan, Shikhar Dhawan and his team have taken this position after due consideration. We respectfully request the league’s understanding and cooperation on this matter.”
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The Pathan brothers and Harbhajan Singh had reportedly made similar decisions, triggered by severe backlash online and across media platforms. Multiple reports have indicated their withdrawal was a reaction to the outrage expressed over the continuation of cricketing ties with Pakistan in the shadow of recent hostilities.
The Indian WCL squad still features prominent names from the nation’s cricketing past, including Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Stuart Binny, Varun Aaron, and Vinay Kumar.
Despite the organisers’ intention to recreate the charm of an India-Pakistan face-off in a relaxed, legends-only format, the timing and setting drew sharp criticism. The emotional weight of current events appears to have eclipsed the romance of the old rivalry.
The WCL, in its statement, sought to convey its original intention. “Our only aim has been to give fans some good, happy moments,” it said, while expressing regret for misreading the public mood. “Maybe in the process, we ended up hurting the feelings of many and stirring emotions.”
The cancellation adds to a long list of disrupted cricketing ties between the two neighbours, whose bilateral contests have remained suspended for over a decade owing to diplomatic and security concerns.
Whether the tournament proceeds with a replacement fixture or adjusts its schedule remains unclear.
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