India vs Pakistan Clash at WCL 2025 Canceled After Mass Withdrawal by Indian Players

www.mangaloretoday.com

New Delhi, July 20, 2025: The much-anticipated India vs Pakistan match at the 2025 World Championship of Legends (WCL) has been officially canceled following a mass withdrawal of former Indian cricketers from the fixture.

Veteran players including Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Yusuf Pathan, and Irfan Pathan pulled out of the match, citing discomfort over playing against Pakistan in the wake of recent terror-related incidents in India.

Shikhar Dhawan, who is said to have taken the lead in raising the issue, shared a screenshot of an email dated May 11 in which he informed tournament officials of his unwillingness to participate in any match involving Pakistan. Reaffirming his stance on social media, Dhawan posted, “Desh se badhkar kuch nahi hota” (Nothing is greater than the nation).

The move received widespread support from both the public and the media. Following Dhawan’s announcement, several other Indian players also opted out, effectively making the staging of the marquee clash unviable.

The WCL 2025 organizers are yet to issue a formal statement regarding the implications of the cancellation on the tournament schedule.