The highly anticipated Pakistan vs. India clash at the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 has been officially called off after India refused to participate, following backlash from its domestic media.
The decision came after senior Indian players — Harbhajan Singh, Yusuf Pathan, and Irfan Pathan — declined to play against Pakistan, despite having previously agreed to the match schedule. The move followed a wave of criticism in Indian media circles, which seemingly pressured the team into withdrawing from the encounter.
READ MORE: The Fiercest Aerial Battle of the 21st Century: Pakistan vs. India
In response to the players’ refusal, WCL management reluctantly cancelled the match, disappointing fans across the cricketing world. This cancellation underscores how deeply political tensions between Pakistan and India continue to affect sports and cultural engagements.
The situation has been further strained by the aftermath of a recent conflict between the two nations, casting a long shadow over bilateral sporting ties. Despite this, the two countries did face off recently in a different sport — the Under-16 Asian Volleyball Championship, where Pakistan defeated India 3-0 in the semifinals and went on to win the championship title.
As regional tensions spill over into the world of sports, the cancellation serves as a reminder that even cricket, a unifying passion across South Asia, is not immune to geopolitical pressures
