Sports Desk:

The much-anticipated veterans’ match between India and Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) was called off on Sunday, 20 July, in Birmingham after Indian players, including Shikhar Dhawan, refused to play citing “current geopolitical tensions.”

The decision follows heightened cross-border tensions after the Pahalgam terror attack in April, which had already impacted cricket in the region.

WCL organisers said they intended to promote sportsmanship, citing recent India-Pakistan hockey and volleyball fixtures, but cancelled the match to avoid “discomfort to our Indian Cricket Legends.”

Dhawan confirmed his stance on X, stating that he and his team would not face Pakistan “in view of the current geopolitical situation.”

The WCL, featuring six teams including India, Pakistan, Australia, South Africa, England, and West Indies, began on 18 July. Yuvraj Singh leads India, while Mohammad Hafeez captains Pakistan. Each team plays each other once before the semi-finals on 31 July and the final on 2 August.