The much-anticipated India vs Pakistan clash at the World Championship of Legends (WCL) was officially called off following a boycott by several senior Indian cricketers. The decision comes in the wake of heightened tensions between the two countries, particularly after Operation Sindoor, India’s military action following the recent Pahalgam terror attack.
The match was scheduled for Sunday night in Birmingham as part of the second edition of the WCL — a six-team tournament recognised by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). However, Indian stars including Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, and Shikhar Dhawan declined to participate in any fixture against Pakistan.
In a statement, the WCL organisers admitted they had misjudged the situation:
“We thought of continuing with the India vs Pakistan match at WCL to create some happy memories for fans across the globe. But in the process, we unintentionally hurt the sentiments of many and caused discomfort to our Indian cricket legends, who have brought so much pride to the nation. We also ended up affecting the brands that supported us purely out of love for the sport. Hence, we’ve decided to call off the India-Pakistan match.”
Shikhar Dhawan was among the first to publicly confirm his stance. A statement from his team read:
“Mr. Shikhar Dhawan will not be participating in any matches against the Pakistan team in the upcoming WCL. This decision, communicated earlier in May, was made after due consideration of the prevailing geopolitical situation and current tensions.”
Dhawan reposted this statement on social media, underscoring his position.
Meanwhile, a key tournament sponsor — which had signed a five-year deal — also pulled out of the India vs Pakistan fixture, saying it “will not be associated with or participate in any WCL match involving Pakistan.”
The WCL features teams from India, Pakistan, England, Australia, South Africa, and the West Indies, with the tournament running from July 18 to August 2. The cancellation of the marquee clash is seen as a major blow to the league’s viewership and sponsorship plans.
