The World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 found itself in the eye of a storm after the India vs Pakistan legends match, scheduled for July 20 at Edgbaston, Birmingham, was cancelled hours before kickoff due to mounting public pressure.
The backlash came in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, which tragically killed 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir. Many fans across India questioned the participation of former Indian cricketers in a fixture against Pakistan so soon after the incident.
Several senior Indian players—Shikhar Dhawan, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, and Suresh Raina—withdrew from the match ahead of the scheduled clash. Dhawan later clarified that he had informed the organisers of his decision to pull out as early as May 11.
On match day, organisers issued a public statement confirming the cancellation and apologising:
“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.”
Ajay Devgn Caught in the Crossfire
The controversy escalated further when images resurfaced online showing Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn—a co-owner of the tournament—interacting with Shahid Afridi, the former Pakistan captain.
Fans on social media expressed outrage over the interaction, pointing to Afridi’s derogatory remarks about the Indian Army earlier this year and questioning why Devgn, a high-profile public figure, would associate with him.
However, it has since been clarified that the meeting did not take place during the 2025 edition of the tournament. The viral photo of Devgn and Afridi dates back to 2024, during the inaugural edition of WCL. At that time, Devgn had travelled to Edgbaston to attend the final between India and Pakistan, which India went on to win.
Despite this clarification, criticism against Devgn hasn’t subsided, with fans saying celebrities must be more sensitive to national sentiment—especially during times of tragedy.
Tournament Continues Amid Tensions
The WCL 2025 tournament kicked off on July 18, with the England Champions facing the Pakistan Champions. But the shadow of controversy surrounding the India-Pakistan fixture and Ajay Devgn’s past presence continues to loom large.
As the fallout continues, the incident has reignited the debate around sporting ties between India and Pakistan, particularly in emotionally charged environments and unofficial formats like legends tournaments.
