PAK vs IND encounter was to take place at Edgbaston on Sunday but was cancelled by WCL organizers after some of India s prominent players withdrew in the last minute. The move came in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, India.
Prominent Indian cricketers, including Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, and Irfan and Yusuf Pathan, reportedly chose not to participate. Shikhar Dhawan also announced his withdrawal through social media.
“In view of the current geopolitical situation, I’ve decided to step back from the India vs Pakistan match,” Dhawan posted, alluding to the rising tensions after the Pahalgam incident.
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Responding to the sudden turn of events, Shahid Afridi expressed deep disappointment and emphasized the need to separate politics from sports. The former Pakistan captain remarked, “We’ve come here to play cricket. I’ve always maintained that cricket and politics should remain separate. A cricketer should serve as a proud ambassador for their country, not a source of embarrassment.”
Shahid Afridi speaks out for the first time after Indian players reportedly refused to face Pakistan Champions in #WCL2025 due to his participation. Watch his exclusive reaction! 🏏🇵🇰 #Cricket
— Nibraz Ramzan (@nibraz88cricket) July 20, 2025
Video credits- Sanaullah khan pic.twitter.com/CLGXWVgivJ
Afridi also condemned the timing of Indian withdrawal, noting that their players were already preparing for the game. "If India did not want to play Pakistan, they should have refused earlier before reaching here," he added. "But to come here, have training sessions, and then withdraw one day back is disappointing."
Meanwhile, the organisers of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) released an official apology for the abandoned match. In it, they regretted the move and offered apologies for "inadvertently causing discomfort" to the Indian cricket legends.
The cancellation has been regarded as a huge blow, particularly as the India vs Pakistan encounter was one of the most highly expected matches of the tournament.
