The highly anticipated India vs. Pakistan match has been formally cancelled by the World Championship of heroes (WCL), which has apologised publicly for “hurting public sentiment” and “causing discomfort” to Indian cricket heroes.
In a formal statement, the WCL stated that a recent friendly volleyball match between the two countries served as the impetus for the decision to schedule the India-Pakistan match in order to make spectators happy. They did acknowledge, though, that the announcement upset many people and made Indian players uncomfortable.
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Indian players are fiercely opposing the move. Shikhar Dhawan, the former Indian opener, reiterated his intention to skip the match against Pakistan in a statement. He also provided a May 11 email he sent to the WCL organisers, in which he made it apparent that he would not be playing because of the current geopolitical unrest.
Suresh Raina, the former Indian star, expressed a similar opinion. Several other Indian luminaries have quietly expressed their worries to the organisers as well, according to sources. The pressure increased when WCL sponsor EaseMyTrip strongly condemned any match involving Pakistan in a statement.
Following Operation Sindoor, India and Pakistan had been embroiled in controversy before. After India defeated Pakistan in the U-16 event on May 24, there was a tense incident during the Junior Davis Cup. A video clip of a Pakistani player being unsportsmanlikely at the post-match handshake went viral. The guy first missed the Indian players and then finished the handshake with a humiliating shake-off motion.
WCL 2025, approved by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), is set to take place at four locations in England—Brighton, Northampton, Leicester, and Leeds—from July 18 to August 2, notwithstanding the postponed match. Retired international stars will compete on behalf of their respective nations.
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