India vs Pakistan WCL 2025 Legends Match at Edgbaston Canceled After Players Boycott

🏏 India vs Pakistan WCL Legends Match Called Off at Edgbaston After Boycott

The highly anticipated India vs Pakistan Legends match at the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, scheduled for Sunday, July 20, 2025 at Edgbaston, has been officially called off by organizers. The decision came after several key Indian veterans, including Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, Yusuf Pathan, and Irfan Pathan, refused to participate amid rising geopolitical tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack in April.

✋ Players Withdraw Over Geopolitical Concerns

Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan confirmed he formally communicated his refusal to play back on May 11, stating his allegiance to the nation comes first. Soon after, other legends like Harbhajan Singh, Yusuf and Irfan Pathan followed suit, prompting the tournament to pull the plug on the high-profile fixture.

🤝 WCL Organizers Apologize and Shelve the Fixture

In a statement on their social media channels, the WCL organizers expressed regret:

“We thought of continuing with the India‑Pakistan match … just to create some happy memories … but we ended up hurting the feelings of many … Hence, we have decided to call off the India‑Pakistan match. We sincerely apologise again for hurting the sentiments.”

💼 Sponsor Forces Position: EaseMyTrip Backs Out

WCL’s major sponsor, EaseMyTrip, reaffirmed its stance against any match involving Pakistan, even though it holds a five-year sponsorship deal. Their statement:

“EaseMyTrip will not be associated with or participate in any WCL match involving Pakistan … We proudly continue to support the India Champions … Bharat First. Always.”

📅 Broader Impact and Context

• The cancellation serves as another reminder of how geopolitics continues to influence India–Pakistan sporting ties, especially in cricket.
• It follows similar controversies and withdrawals involving former players like Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina, mediated by public pressure and recent terror developments.
• The WCL tournament is still progressing, with other fixtures slated across Northampton, Leicester, and Leeds, and a final on August 2

🔮 What Lies Ahead

With the India–Pakistan match shelved, attention shifts to:

• How the WCL reorganizes its schedule in its absence
• The lasting impact on future legends fixtures involving both nations
• Whether geopolitical tensions will further affect bilateral cricket series and fixtures