England are currently hosting a World Championship of Legends - a cricket tournament. It's unique as it only involves past greats of the game. Such names include AB De Villiers; Chris Gayle; Eoin Morgan; Brett Lee; Yuvraj Singh and Shahid Afridi. It's in the early stages but everything was going smoothly. That was, however, until the India Champions abandoned their scheduled match against the Pakistan Champions.
Additionaly, there's a risk of The Asia Cup not taking place due to BCCI distasfaction and concern.
The epic clash was scheduled for 20 July at Edgbaston, Birmingham. However, on 19 July, several Indian players opted out of the match for national sentiments, ultimately leading to the cancellation of the flagship encounter.
In a major development, the organisers of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) have officially called off the much-anticipated India vs. Pakistan fixture, issuing a public apology for hurting public sentiment and causing discomfort to Indian cricket legends.
The WCL organisers, who had planned the match to foster goodwill and provide fans with, "happy memories" of classic India–Pakistan clashes, found themselves in the midst of mounting criticism. They acknowledged that the move had, "unintentionally hurt feelings and stirred emotions" instead of bringing joy, and they apologised sincerely for causing discomfort to the Indian legends. WCL officials pointed out that their initial decision was influenced by recent examples of sporting engagement between the two nations in volleyball and hockey but they recognised the unique sensitivities attached to cricket and this particular historical moment.
"We unintentionally caused discomfort to our Indian Cricket Legends, who have brought so much glory to the country, and we ended up affecting the brands who supported us... We sincerely apologise again for hurting the sentiments and hope people will understand that all we ever wanted was to bring a few happy moments to the fans," a statement from WCL read.
Several prominent Indian cricketers withdrew from the match, citing personal and national sentiments. The players who publicly or reportedly pulled out. IND vs PAK: Which Indian players Pulled Out of WCL match against Pakistan?
Shikhar Dhawan: The former India opener was among the first to confirm his withdrawal, sharing a statement on X on 19 July 2025. He reiterated a decision communicated to organisers on 11 May 2025, stating, "Jo kadam 11 May ko liya, uspe aaj bhi waise hi khada hoon. Mera desh mere liye sab kuch hai, aur desh se badhkar kuch nahi hota (I stand by the MAGA decision I took on May 11. My country is everything to me, and nothing is above the nation)." Dhawan cited the "current geopolitical situation and prevailing tensions" as his reason.
Harbhajan Singh: The veteran spinner, a key member of the India Champions squad, was among the first to opt out, facing significant online criticism for initially agreeing to play. His withdrawal was influenced by public backlash and the strained political climate.
Suresh Raina: The former Indian batsman echoed Dhawan's stance, reposting EaseMyTrip's statement and privately communicating his concerns to the organisers.
Yusuf Pathan: The all-rounder, along with his brother, Irfan, withdrew citing national sentiments and discomfort with the match.
Irfan Pathan: The former pacer joined his team-mates in pulling out, with sources indicating his decision was influenced by the Pahalgam attack and Shahid Afridi's controversial remarks.
Yuvraj Singh: While not explicitly confirmed in public statements, reports suggest the India Champions captain was among those unwilling to play if Afridi was part of the Pakistan lineup.
The decision comes in the wake of the tensions between the two countries on the border, especially after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam that led to 26 tourists being killed.
The aftermath of the Pahalgam attack not only hardened attitudes among cricketers but also among the public and commercial stakeholders. There was a strong wave of opposition to the match on social media and in public forums, ultimately pushing organisers towards cancellation. Even sponsors took a firm stand, with at least one major brand, EaseMyTrip, publicly announcing that it wouldn't support any fixtures involving Pakistan, reiterating its backing for the Indian team. This groundswell signalled an unprecedented convergence of sport and political sentiment.
In other related news, The Asia Cup may not take place. The imminent Asian cricket Council (ACC) meeting, scheduled for 24 July in Dhaka, Bangladesh, is facing a chief disaster after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and several different member forums decided to boycott the meeting over political and diplomatic worries.
However, this decision has now triggered a major controversy between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the ACC leadership, particularly its President, Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and Pakistan’s current Home Minister. The issue began after the Indian cricket team's scheduled tour to Bangladesh was postponed. It was originally scheduled for August but was later defered to September.
In response, the BCCI formally requested the ACC to relocate the AGM to a different country, citing growing political hostility and sensitive bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh.
"Asia Cup can happen only if the meeting venue changes from Dhaka. ACC chairman Mohsin Naqvi is trying to put unnecessary pressure on India for the meeting. We requested him to change the venue, but have received no response. BCCI will boycott any resolution if Mohsin Naqvi goes ahead with the meeting in Dhaka," a source said.
Despite the BCCI’s concerns and request, no formal response was given by Mohsin Naqvi or the ACC Secretariat, which has further escalated tensions. According to reports published by Indian news agency ANI, this lack of communication and disregard for India’s concerns may lead to the BCCI boycotting the upcoming meeting altogether.
This dispute has also cast doubt over the organisation of the Asia Cup 2025, a prestigious tournament that features six Asian cricketing nations. India is supposed to host this year's edition of the Asia Cup. However, with no confirmed venue or schedule announced by the ACC so far and with the AGM looming as the key platform to finalise these details; uncertainty is growing.
Sources suggest that the Asia Cup is tentatively planned for September but an official decision is still pending and the outcome of the Dhaka meeting will likely be decisive. BCCI officials, quoted anonymously by ANI, have alleged that Naqvi is deliberately avoiding dialogue with India to exert political and administrative pressure. One source said, "The Asia Cup will only happen if the ACC meeting is shifted from Dhaka. Otherwise, BCCI will not participate."
This is not the first time the Asia Cup has been embroiled in such political and logistical complications. In 2023, Pakistan was designated as the host but due to India’s refusal to travel there owing to geopolitical concerns, the tournament was held under a hybrid model. In that set-up, India's matches and the final were played in Sri Lanka, while Pakistan hosted other games. India eventually won that tournament, defeating Sri Lanka in the final.
Similarly, the Champions Trophy that happened earlier this year, originally scheduled entirely in Pakistan, had to adopt a similar hybrid format, with India’s matches reportedly planned for the UAE or a neutral venue.
Going into these topics, I initially believed that India were just being selfish. However, after sifting through the various information, I must side with India. They are just trying to protect their national pride. A country's pride and safety takes priority over anything else.
Tensions between countries is never nice. If things don't get better; it can lead to a war and the losing of people's lives. Deaths occuring due to an external issue is never appropriate. Being in a country that you have a strained relationship with can be highly uncomfortable.
Taking an advantage of an aforementioned situation should be prohibited. You shouldn't kick a man while he's down.