The sudden last-minute withdrawal of India’s team from the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan clash in the World Championship of Legends 2025 sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. This unexpected move not only led to the cancellation of the iconic match but also sparked sharp criticism from former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi. Afridi expressed deep disappointment over India’s decision to pull out after arriving and preparing for the game, emphasizing that cricket should rise above political tensions.
His remarks underscore the ongoing struggle to separate sports from politics in the complex India-Pakistan rivalry, a challenge that continues to impact legendary cricket events.
Background and Context of Withdrawal
The India vs Pakistan match in WCL 2025 was cancelled after several former Indian cricketers, including popular players like Shikhar Dhawan, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina, and the Pathan brothers (Irfan and Yusuf), refused to play against Pakistan. The withdrawal was influenced by geopolitical tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025. Shikhar Dhawan publicly announced on social media that due to the prevailing political environment, especially after the attack, he would not participate in matches against Pakistan for patriotic reasons. This stance was supported by other Indian legends, which made it impossible for the Indian side to field a team, prompting the organisers to cancel the fixture.
Shahid Afridi’s Reaction and Criticism
Shahid Afridi, a former Pakistan captain and renowned cricketer, expressed sharp disappointment and criticized the Indian players for pulling out at the last moment despite practicing for the match. Afridi emphasized that the players had arrived, trained, and were ready to participate, but then abruptly changed their decision on match day.
Afridi said, “We are here to play cricket and I’ve always said that cricket should be kept away from politics — it should move forward. A player should be a good ambassador, not a source of embarrassment for their country.” He condemned the Indian players for letting politics interfere with sports, which, in his view, should serve to unify rather than divide.
He further added, “If India didn’t want to play against Pakistan, they should have refused before coming here. But now you’ve arrived, even held practice sessions, and then suddenly changed everything in a single day.” Afridi’s message reinforced his belief that sporting events should transcend political conflicts and that last-minute withdrawals create embarrassment for the team and nation.
Afridi also commented on the broader role of sports in diplomacy and improving bilateral ties by stating, “Sports bring people closer, but if politics gets involved in everything, how will we move forward? Until we sit together and discuss issues, nothing will improve — lack of communication only makes things worse.” According to him, avoiding interaction through sports stalls any progress in better relations between India and Pakistan.
Impact on the Tournament and Officials’ Statements
The cancellation of the marquee India-Pakistan match was a major setback for the World Championship of Legends 2025. The organisers, reportedly co-owned by Bollywood stars Ajay Devgn and Harshit Tomar, apologized for unintentionally causing discomfort to Indian legends and acknowledged the difficulty in managing the situation given the political sensitivities.
The Pakistan Champions’ team owner, Kamil Khan, confirmed the continuity of the tournament without changes, stating that the remaining fixtures will proceed as scheduled. For the cancelled match, the points were awarded to Pakistan Champions as per the tournament rules, reflecting India’s no-show.
Summary of Afridi’s Core Criticism Points
- Afridi called out the Indian players for being last-minute pullouts despite practicing for the match.
- He stressed that sports and cricket should be free from political interference.
- Afridi urged players to act as good ambassadors for their countries rather than creating embarrassment.
- He highlighted the potential of sports to bridge political divides between India and Pakistan.
- Afridi criticized the sudden change, urging consistency if a team does not want to play.
- He lamented how “one rotten egg” (interpreted as certain players’ decisions) can spoil the spirit and the event.
Also Read: Pakistan to Host Afghanistan & UAE Tri-Series Ahead of Asia Cup 2025
Final Notes
The fact that Shahid Afridi criticized this incident highlights the existing difficulties of divorcing politicians and politics in the India-Pakistan cricket match. Even though WCL is intended to commemorate the former heroes and create goodwill based on cricket playing, national attachments, and the political aspects are deeply embedded in the knots of such meetings. The fact that geopolitical problems, with people trying to withdraw at the last moment, is the issue behind such leadership, compared to Afridi, who asks to use cricket as a means of convergence.
