Key points
- Harbhajan, Yusuf Pathan withdraw over political tensions
- WCL apologises, says intent was to spread joy
- Pakistan edged England in WCL opener by five runs
ISLAMABAD: The highly anticipated fourth fixture of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 between long-time rivals India and Pakistan, scheduled for Sunday at Edgbaston, has officially been cancelled.
The announcement was made via an official statement shared on the WCL’s social media platforms, confirming the cancellation of the high-profile clash.
“At WCL, we have always valued and loved cricket, with our sole aim being to bring joy and memorable moments to fans,” the statement read.
“Following news that the Pakistan hockey team will be visiting India later this year, and given recent India vs Pakistan encounters in volleyball and other sports, we felt it fitting to continue with the India vs Pakistan match at the WCL — purely to create uplifting memories for people around the world.”
“However, we have now decided to cancel the India vs Pakistan match,” it added.
“We sincerely apologise if any sentiments were hurt and hope fans will understand that our only intention was to provide a few happy moments.”
Prior to the official announcement, news had surfaced that five Indian cricketers had set conditions regarding the Pakistan match — specifically stating they would not participate if former all-rounder Shahid Afridi was involved in the squad or present at the venue.
Political tensions
Indian media also reported that Harbhajan Singh and Yusuf Pathan had already withdrawn from the fixture, citing political tensions and prevailing public sentiment.
Furthermore, Shikhar Dhawan had previously been involved in online spats with the former Pakistan captain over past anti-India remarks. Dhawan later confirmed his withdrawal via an Instagram story.
It is worth mentioning that the Pakistan Champions, led by Mohammad Hafeez, won the WCL 2025 opening match against the England Champions by a narrow five-run margin.
Chasing a target of 161, England were restricted to 155 for 3 in their 20 overs, thanks to a tight final over from Sohail Khan, who successfully defended 16 runs and conceded only 10, securing the win for Pakistan.
Pakistan Champions squad for WCL 2025: Mohammad Hafeez (captain), Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Sharjeel Khan, Fawad Alam, Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanveer, Asif Ali, Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Amin, Rumman Raees, Amir Yamin, and Sohail Khan.
India Champions squad for WCL 2025: Yuvraj Singh (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla, Stuart Binny, Gurkeerat Maan, Vinay Kumar, Siddarth Kaul, Varun Aaron, Abhimanyu Mithun, and Pawan Negi.
