In a dramatic turn of events, the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan fixture at the World Championship of Legends (WCL) was officially called off, triggering a wave of reactions on social media. The organisers, in their statement, issued a public apology, acknowledging that the scheduling of the match had caused discomfort among Indian legends and hurt public sentiment. The match was initially planned as a goodwill gesture, drawing inspiration from a recent IndiaPakistan- volleyball encounter. But the idea backfired, with former India cricketers including Shikhar Dhawan taking a firm stand against participating in the match. Dhawan not only released a public statement on X reaffirming his stance, but also shared an email dated May 11, in which he clearly informed WCL organisers of his refusal to play due to ongoing geopolitical tensions.A user summed up the mood by posting, “He chose India over money. Yes, he got the guts to not play against Pakistan. Thank you Shikhar Bhai.” As the news spread, the backlash was swift and sharp. Many questioned the rationale behind even inviting a Pakistan team to a tournament run by Indian organisers. The timing of the cancellation being less than 24 hours before the scheduled clash further intensified the outrage. “Absolutely disgraceful for a sports match to be called off less than 24 hours before it’s due to start due to politics,” read another frustrated post. Even cricketers and celebrities joined the online chatter. Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh (via a retweet), and others made their positions clear, backing the sentiment that national pride should not be compromised for commercial value.
Poll
Was the timing of the match cancellation appropriate?
A third user wrote, “Where greed for money is much more prominent than the love for ‘creating happy memories’.”
Yuvraj Singh on X
Suresh Raina on X
Shikhar Dhawan on X
Screengrab via X
Screengrab via X
Image via Screengrab
Image via X
Screengrab via X
The WCL, which had taken the form of a celebration of cricket’s retired greats, now finds itself in the middle of a controversy.
