The World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 match between Pakistan and India has been called off after Indian players, most notably Shikhar Dhawan and Harbhajan Singh, refused to participate due to the ongoing political tensions between the two countries. These tensions have been heightened since the Pahalgam terror attack in April, which also led to the temporary suspension of both the IPL and PSL.
WCL Committee Hoped for Improved Relations Amid Signs of Sporting Diplomacy
Although India’s stance on non-participation was communicated on May 11, the WCL committee went ahead with the original schedule involving the other four teams, hoping the situation might ease. They cited encouraging signs, such as the Pakistan hockey team’s planned tour of India and a recent under-16 hockey match between the two nations.
“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 along with a few other fixtures between the two nations in different sports, we thought of continuing with the India vs Pakistan match at WCL, just to create some happy memories for people around the globe said the committee
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"But maybe in the process, we ended up hurting the feelings of many and stirring emotions," organisers WCL said in a statement. "More than that, we unintentionally caused discomfort to our Indian cricket legends, who have brought so much glory to the country, and we ended up affecting the brands who supported us purely out of love for the game. Hence, we decided to call off the India-Pakistan game," as quoted by Cricbuzz
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Indian Players Reaffirm Withdrawal Citing Geopolitical Tensions
As the match date approached, reports emerged that players like Harbhajan Singh were not willing to participate. Shikhar Dhawan also shared a formal statement on X, reaffirming his stance:
“This is to formally reiterate and confirm that Mr. Shikhar Dhawan will not be participating in any matches against the Pakistan team in the upcoming WCL League. This decision was communicated earlier during our call and WhatsApp dated 11th May, 2025.
Because of the current geopolitical situation and prevailing tensions between India and Pakistan, Mr. Dhawan and his team have taken this position after due consideration. We respectfully request the league's understanding and cooperation on this matter.”
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Dhawan reposted the statement, further solidifying the team’s position.
Following the developments, several sponsors also withdrew support, stating they "will not be associated with or participate in any WCL match involving Pakistan." for the next five years
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The second edition of the tournament began on July 18 in Birmingham and has already seen three matches completed. The final is scheduled for August 2 at Edgbaston. India Champions will face South Africa Champions on July 22.
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