WCL: The much-anticipated India vs Pakistan veterans’ match in the World Championship of Legends, scheduled for Sunday in Birmingham, was called off after several Indian players, including Shikhar Dhawan, withdrew from the game.
The players’ decision came in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack in April. Although Dhawan had informed the organisers about his position back in May, he reiterated on Saturday that his stance remains unchanged.
With other former Indian stars like Harbhajan Singh and the Pathan brothers also pulling out, organisers were left with no choice but to cancel the high-profile clash. Speaking on the issue, the WCL organisers remarked, “We even heard the Pakistan hockey team is coming to India. We believed we could go ahead with this match.”
WCL Cancels India vs Pakistan Match, Cites Emotional Reactions Despite Good Intentions
Taking to social media, the World Championship of Legends (WCL) organisers explained their decision to schedule an India vs Pakistan match, despite the sensitive political relations between the two nations. According to a post shared by the organisers, the inspiration came from recent sporting encounters—such as a volleyball match between India and Pakistan and the upcoming hockey fixture where the Pakistan team is set to tour India.
“We at WCL have always cherished and loved cricket, and our only aim has been to give fans some good, happy moments,” the organisers wrote on X. “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, we thought of continuing with the India vs Pakistan match at WCL – just to create some happy memories for people around the globe.”
However, the organisers acknowledged that the move unintentionally sparked negative reactions. “But maybe in the process, we ended up hurting the feelings of many and stirring emotions,” the WCL statement added.
In light of the backlash, WCL has decided to cancel the India-Pakistan fixture. They issued an apology, particularly to Indian cricket legends, for “unintentionally causing discomfort” and emphasized that their only goal was to bring joy to cricket fans.
India had defeated Pakistan by five wickets in the final of the inaugural WCL edition last year in Edgbaston. The Indian Legends are led by World Cup winner Yuvraj Singh, with a squad featuring notable names like Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa, and Varun Aaron.
