India-Pakistan WCL Match Cancelled

BIRMINGHAM: The highly anticipated fourth match of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 between India and Pakistan, initially slated for Sunday at Edgbaston, has been officially cancelled.

The announcement confirming the cancellation of the prominent match was conveyed through an official statement shared on the WCL’s social media platforms.

The statement read, “At WCL, we have always cherished cricket, with our sole aim being to provide fans with enjoyable moments.”

“Upon learning about the Pakistan hockey team’s upcoming visit to India and observing recent volleyball and other inter-nation matches between India and Pakistan, we considered proceeding with the India vs Pakistan match at WCL to create positive memories for fans worldwide.”

The statement further noted, “However, we have made the decision to call off the India vs Pakistan match.”

“We sincerely regret any hurt sentiments and hope that people understand our intention was simply to bring joy to the fans.”

Prior to the official announcement, reports surfaced indicating that five Indian cricketers had set a condition for their participation against Pakistan, stating they would not play if former all-rounder Shahid Afridi was included in the squad or present at the stadium.

Sources revealed that former Indian all-rounders Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Suresh Raina, along with veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh and former opener Shikhar Dhawan, voiced strong opposition to Afridi’s presence and formally communicated their stance to the tournament organizers.

Reports from Indian media further indicated that Harbhajan Singh and Yusuf Pathan had already withdrawn from the match, citing political tensions and public sentiment.

Additionally, Shikhar Dhawan had previously engaged in social media exchanges with the former Pakistan captain regarding his past remarks against India, confirming his withdrawal via an Instagram story.

Notably, the Green Shirts, captained by Mohammad Hafeez, secured a narrow five-run victory in the WCL 2025 opener against the England Champions.

While chasing a target of 161, England were restricted to 155-3 in 20 overs, with Sohail Khan’s tight final over, successfully defending 16 runs and conceding only 10, ensuring his team’s victory.

Pakistan Champions Squad for WCL 2025:

Mohammad Hafeez (c), Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Sharjeel Khan, Fawad Alam, Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanveer, Asif Ali, Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Amin, Rumman Raees, Amir Yamin and Sohail Khan.

India Champions Squad for WCL 2025:

Yuvraj Singh (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla, Stuart Binny, Gurkeerat Maan, Vinay Kumar, Siddarth Kaul, Varun Aaron, Abhimanyu Mithun, and Pawan Negi.