A highly anticipated cricket match between veteran players from India and Pakistan — scheduled as part of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) — was cancelled after several Indian players, including former star opener Shikhar Dhawan, declined to participate. According to a statement released by WCL on Sunday, the players cited escalating “geopolitical tensions” between the two countries as the reason for their refusal.
The WCL is a global T20 cricket tournament that features retired international players who are no longer under central contracts. The event, aimed at reviving nostalgic rivalries and showcasing cricketing legends, began on July 18 in Birmingham, England.
In an official post on X (formerly Twitter), the WCL organisers stated: “We have decided to call off the India vs Pakistan match.” They explained that the fixture was originally scheduled in a spirit of optimism, following what they described as “recent positive developments” in India-Pakistan relations, which had suggested a potential thaw in bilateral sporting ties.
The cancellation underscores the ongoing challenges of organizing sporting events between the two nations amid fluctuating diplomatic relations.
