The highly anticipated India-Pakistan match at the World Championship of Legends (WCL) has been officially called off after multiple Indian players, including Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina, withdrew from the fixture citing geopolitical concerns.
In an official statement, the WCL organisers apologised for hurting public sentiments, acknowledging that their decision to include an India-Pakistan fixture—announced after a recent volleyball match between the two nations—may have unintentionally caused discomfort, particularly among Indian legends.
“While we aimed to create joyful memories for fans, we recognise that this move may have led to distress. We sincerely apologise,” the WCL stated.
The cancellation followed confirmation from Indian players who expressed their unwillingness to participate in the match against Pakistan. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Shikhar Dhawan shared an email addressed to the tournament organisers dated May 11, clearly stating his refusal to play the Pakistan game due to the ongoing geopolitical situation.
“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,” Dhawan wrote, reaffirming his nationalistic stance.
Adding to the controversy, one of the tournament’s main sponsors, EaseMyTrip, issued a statement distancing itself from any match involving Pakistan. Despite a five-year sponsorship agreement with WCL, the company declared it would not participate in or support any fixture featuring the Pakistani team.
“Our stance has always been clear—EaseMyTrip will not associate with any WCL match involving Pakistan. We stand firmly with Team India and our priority remains supporting our nation,” the travel-tech firm posted on X, ending with the slogan, “Bharat First. Always.”
The World Championship of Legends 2025, sanctioned by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), is scheduled to run from July 18 to August 2 across cities including Birmingham, Northampton, Leicester, and Leeds. The tournament features former cricket stars from around the world in a celebration of the sport’s legends.
With the India-Pakistan encounter now cancelled, organisers are expected to revise the schedule and address the fallout from what was to be one of the tournament’s most watched events.
