Shahid Afridi Reacts After India Withdraws From Pakistan Match in World Championship of Legends
Date: July 21, 2025
Source: News18, by Megha Mallick
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi urged for politics-free cricket after India withdrew from their scheduled match against Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) in England.
The highly anticipated game, set for Sunday, July 20, was called off following strong social media backlash in India over playing against Pakistan, two months after the Pahalgam attack. The organizers apologized to Indian players for any discomfort caused.
Afridi expressed disappointment over India’s decision:
“We’ve come here to play cricket. I’ve always said cricket should be kept away from politics. A player should be a good ambassador, not an embarrassment for their country. If India didn’t want to play, they should have refused before coming here, not after holding practice sessions and suddenly withdrawing.”
The Pakistan squad for the WCL features several former stars, including Afridi himself, Younis Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz, and Kamran Akmal.
The owner of Pakistan Champions, Kamil Khan, confirmed that the tournament will continue as planned. Pakistan has been awarded two points for the forfeited match as per tournament rules.
“All the remaining matches will go ahead as scheduled. If we reach the semifinals or final, decisions regarding potential clashes will be made then,” Khan stated.
On the Indian side, former opener Shikhar Dhawan also posted a statement on X (formerly Twitter), affirming his decision not to play against Pakistan.
