Kaneria Questions India’s Consistency on Pakistan Matches

Former Pakistani cricketer Danish Kaneria has voiced his criticism regarding what he sees as a contradictory stance taken by India concerning cricket matches against Pakistan.

Kaneria used social media to question why India backed out of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) game the previous week, citing patriotic reasons, yet is willing to compete against Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025.

“Indian players boycotted WCL calling it a national duty. But now Asia Cup vs Pakistan is just fine? If cricket with Pakistan is okay, then WCL should’ve been too. Stop using patriotism when it suits you. Let sport be sport, not propaganda,” Kaneria posted.

Although the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is formally hosting the Asia Cup, the competition will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This arrangement is part of an existing agreement between India and Pakistan to exclusively play at neutral locations until at least 2027, a measure implemented due to ongoing tensions.

The schedule for the Men’s Asia Cup 2025 was recently revealed, confirming that India and Pakistan will face each other on September 14 in the UAE.

This year’s event will use the T20 format, offering teams a valuable opportunity to prepare for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which India and Sri Lanka will jointly host.

The tournament will feature eight teams, divided into two groups. Group A includes India, Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, while Group B consists of Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Hong Kong.

The event is scheduled to commence on September 9, with a match between Afghanistan and Hong Kong.

Pakistan is set to begin their campaign against Oman on September 12, followed by the anticipated match against India two days later.

Should both teams secure a top-two finish in their respective groups, they are likely to meet again in the Super Four stage on September 21, with the final match planned for September 28.

The WCL 2025 league-stage match between India Champions and Pakistan Champions, initially scheduled for July 20 at Edgbaston, was officially cancelled.

The cancellation was announced on the WCL’s social media channels.

Prior to the announcement, reports indicated that numerous Indian players, including Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, and Shikhar Dhawan, had expressed concerns about the participation of former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, which ultimately led to India’s withdrawal.

In other WCL news, India Champions experienced their second defeat as Australia Champions successfully chased down a 204-run target in the final over.

Pakistan Champions, however, maintained their winning record with a 49-run victory over West Indies Champions. Kamran Akmal’s century and strong bowling performance contributed to their position at the top of the points table.