In a major development, the organisers of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) have officially called off the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan fixture, issuing a public apology for hurting public sentiment and causing discomfort to Indian cricket legends.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!In a formal statement, WCL said the decision to schedule an India-Pakistan game was inspired by a recent friendly volleyball encounter between the two nations, aimed at creating “happy memories” for fans. However, the organisers admitted that the announcement ended up “hurting the feelings of many” and caused unease among Indian players. “We deeply regret the emotional distress caused and apologise for the inconvenience,” WCL said, confirming that the match has been scrapped.
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The move follows strong resistance from Indian cricketers. Former India cricketer Shikhar Dhawan shared a statement on social media platform X, reaffirming his decision to not play against Pakistan. He also posted an email he had sent to WCL organisers on May 11, clearly communicating his refusal to participate due to the prevailing geopolitical tensions.“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 (I stand by the decision I took on May 11. My country is everything to me, and nothing is above the nation),” Dhawan wrote.Suresh Raina also echoed the same stance, while sources suggest that other Indian legends had privately communicated similar concerns to the organisers.Adding to the chorus, WCL sponsor EaseMyTrip issued a strong statement distancing itself from any fixture involving Pakistan. “Despite entering into a 5-year sponsorship agreement, EaseMyTrip will not associate with or participate in any WCL match involving Pakistan,” the travel-tech portal said. The company reiterated its full support to the India Champions and emphasised, “Bharat First. Always.”WCL 2025, sanctioned by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), is set to run from July 18 to August 2 at four UK venues – Birmingham, Northampton, Leicester, and Leeds – with retired international stars participating.
