WCL 2025: India vs Pakistan veterans' clash cancelled as Dhawan, others pull out over Pahalgam attack

India had won the inaugural edition of the WCL last year, defeating Pakistan by five wickets in the final at Edgbaston.

The much-anticipated veterans’ cricket match between India and Pakistan in the ongoing World Championship of Legends (WCL) has been cancelled following the withdrawal of key Indian players, including former opener Shikhar Dhawan, in protest against the Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year.

The exhibition clash, scheduled for Sunday, was part of the second edition of the WCL, which began on June 18 at Edgbaston and is set to conclude with the final on August 2.

India Legends, led by World Cup winner Yuvraj Singh, features several prominent retired cricketers such as Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa, and Varun Aaron.

However, the match against Pakistan Legends became a flashpoint after players expressed discomfort over participating in a friendly fixture amid heightened tensions following the April terror attack in Pahalgam and the subsequent Operation Sindoor carried out by Indian forces.

In a statement shared on social media platform X, the WCL organisers acknowledged the growing concerns and confirmed the cancellation of the match.

“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 other fixtures, we thought of continuing with the India vs Pakistan match at WCL to create happy memories. But maybe in the process, we ended up hurting the feelings of many and stirring emotions,” the statement read.

The organisers offered an apology to the Indian players for any “unintentional discomfort,” adding, “We sincerely apologise again for hurting sentiments and hope people understand that all we ever wanted was to bring a few happy moments to fans.”

Shikhar Dhawan also released a formal statement on X, confirming he had communicated his decision to opt out of the match earlier in May.

“In view of the current geopolitical situation and the prevailing tensions between India and Pakistan, I and my team have decided not to participate in any matches against the Pakistan team in the upcoming WCL League,” Dhawan stated.

He added, “This decision is based on our respect for national sentiment and the grief caused by the terror attack in Pahalgam.”

India had won the inaugural edition of the WCL last year, defeating Pakistan by five wickets in the final at Edgbaston. However, this year’s edition has seen national sentiment overshadow nostalgia, leading to the scrapping of one of its headline fixtures.