The World Championship of Legends (WCL) organisers have apologised after the India vs Pakistan match was cancelled. The match was scheduled for July 20 at Edgbaston.
Several Indian players, including former captains Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina, pulled out due to geopolitical concerns. Their withdrawal forced the cancellation of this much-anticipated game.
In an official statement on X (formerly Twitter), WCL said the match was meant to celebrate sportsmanship and friendship. However, they admitted the decision upset many cricket fans and expressed sincere apologies.
WCL organisers added that the match was inspired by a recent volleyball game between India and Pakistan. They hoped it would create positive memories, but the plan did not work out as expected.
The cancellation also led to Indian travel company EaseMyTrip withdrawing sponsorship. The company stated it would not support any matches involving Pakistan, respecting the sentiments of Indian citizens.
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, who was set to play in the Pakistan Champions team, expressed his disappointment over the cancellation. Afridi noted that Indian players had already arrived and trained in England before pulling out.
Afridi called for separating politics from sports and said cricket should promote peace, not become a victim of political tensions. He also criticized the lack of prior communication from the Indian team.
India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral cricket series since 2012–13. Most of their matches occur in multi-nation tournaments. Political tensions continue to hinder bilateral games.
The cancelled WCL match was seen as a rare opportunity to see retired legends from both countries play together. The organisers have not announced a replacement fixture yet.
Fans who purchased tickets for the Edgbaston match will receive full refunds, according to WCL officials.
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