NDC SPORTS DESK
The much-anticipated India vs Pakistan clash in the World Championship of Legends (WCL), scheduled for July 20 at Edgbaston, has been officially called off after several Indian cricketing legends opted out of the fixture. The WCL issued a public apology on Sunday, acknowledging that the decision to schedule the match may have unintentionally caused discomfort and hurt sentiments.
The exhibition match was planned as a gesture of goodwill following recent sporting interactions between the two countries, including a volleyball match and the announcement of Pakistan’s hockey team touring India later this year. However, the timing of the fixture, coming in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, led to strong reservations among Indian players and fans alike.
In an official statement, the WCL said:
“We at WCL have always cherished and loved cricket, and our only aim has been to give fans some good, happy moments.After seeing recent India vs Pakistan matches in other sports, we thought of continuing the spirit by hosting a similar contest in the WCL—just to create joyful memories for fans around the globe.
But in the process, we may have stirred emotions and unintentionally caused discomfort to our Indian Cricket Legends, who have brought immense pride to the nation.
We also impacted the brands that supported us purely out of love for the game.
In light of this, we have decided to cancel the India vs Pakistan match. We sincerely apologise for hurting sentiments and hope people understand our intentions were only to spread positivity through cricket.”
The match would have marked the first India-Pakistan cricket fixture since the military standoff that followed the Pahalgam terror attack, making it a particularly sensitive event.
According to a report ,Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina, and Yusuf Pathan were among the first Indian players to withdraw, with many reportedly citing concerns linked to the attack’s aftermath. Irfan Pathan is also believed to have opted out.
Shikhar Dhawan publicly confirmed his non-participation as early as May 11, sharing a post on X (formerly Twitter) along with an email he had sent to the organisers. In his message, Dhawan expressed his reasons clearly:
“Jo kadam 11 May ko liya, uspe aaj bhi waise hi khada hoon. Mera desh mere liye sab kuch hai, aur desh se badhkar kuch nahi hota.”(I stand by the decision I took on May 11. My country is everything to me, and nothing is greater than the nation.)
The WCL’s attempt at fostering goodwill through sport may have backfired, but the organisers’ swift decision to cancel the match and issue an apology suggests an effort to remain sensitive to public sentiment and national priorities.
