The India vs Pakistan match in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) that was scheduled for Sunday has been cancelled. The Indian players, including team captain Shikhar Dhawan, opted out of playing. This followed the April Pahalgam attack. Due to this, the WCL organizers cancelled the match.
Tournament Details and Teams Involved
The WCL is being promoted by the England Cricket Board. Bollywood star Ajay Devgn is part owner of the league. The tournament started on June 18 and was to conclude with a final game on August 2.
India's squad comprises retired cricketers Yuvraj Singh (skipper), Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa, and Varun Aaron. Pakistan's squad is captained by Shahid Afridi and features Younis Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz, and Kamran Akmal.
WCL Issues Official Statement
In a statement, the WCL explained that the match was arranged to ensure peace. The move came after watching sporting interactions such as hockey and volleyball between Pakistan and India. However, they realized the match concept angered many. The organizers apologized and assured the cancellation.
Player Comments and Previous Matches
Dhawan tweeted on X (previously Twitter) that he told the WCL organizers last May that he would not play against Pakistan. The two countries played last year in the first WCL tournament. India and Pakistan have not played any bilateral series in any sport in recent years, though.
India's Government Stance on Sports Tournaments
Despite the political tensions, India has allowed Pakistan to participate in multiple international tournaments hosted in the country. These include the Hockey Asia Cup, Junior Hockey World Cup, Junior Shooting World Cup, and World Para Athletics.
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