NEW DELHI: The much-anticipated India vs Pakistan match in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, scheduled for July 20 at Edgbaston, Birmingham, was cancelled by the organisers after widespread outrage on social media. The backlash followed the tragic Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 Indian tourists, prompting fans to question the timing and ethics of former Indian cricketers participating in the match.Amid mounting pressure, several ex-India players — including Shikhar Dhawan, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, and Suresh Raina — pulled out of the fixture.
Dhawan revealed he had informed the organisers as early as May 11 about his decision to not play against Pakistan.Adding fuel to the controversy were viral photos showing WCL co-owner and Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn alongside former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi. Though the images resurfaced recently, they were taken during the inaugural edition of the tournament last year, not in 2025. Still, the backlash intensified due to Afridi’s earlier derogatory remarks about the Indian Army.On Sunday morning, the organisers officially confirmed the cancellation and issued a public apology: “We sincerely apologise again for hurting the sentiments and hope people will understand that all we ever wanted was to bring a few happy moments to the fans.”
The 2025 WCL began on July 18 with a clash between England Champions and Pakistan Champions. India Champions will next face South Africa Champions on Tuesday, July 21.Ajay Devgn had attended matches at Edgbaston during the inaugural edition in 2024, which concluded with India defeating Pakistan in the final.
