A Cricket match among Indian and Pakistani veteran players, part of the Legends World Championship (WCL), was canceled after Indian players, including Shikhar Dhawan, refused to play against Pakistan, citing “geopolitical tensions” recent between the two nations, according to a statement issued by WCL on Sunday.
The WCL is an International Cricket League where international and unpractical international players return to the T20 competitive Cricket, according to the League website. The tournament began on July 18 and is celebrated in Birmingham, England.
In a statement published in X, WCL organizers announced that “we have decided to cancel the Indian VS Pakistan party”, saying that the party between the two countries was planned in the light of the recent positive development between India and Pakistan, indicating a greater bilateral sports links.
The statement cited a recent volleyball match between rival nations and speculation about the Pakistan hockey team that toured India at the end of this year.
Earl this month, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported that Pakistan must review the security situation in India before attending to send their hockey teams to the neighboring country for the Asia Cup and the Junior World Cup that will be held at the end of this year.
The decision to cancel the WCL game occurred after former Indian players, including veteran Cricket Shikhar Dhawan, refused to play against Pakistan. Dhawan published a statement on his X account, showing a screenshot of an email sent to notify his party withdrawal.
The statement cited the “current geopolitical situation and prevailing tensions between India and Pakistan” as reasons for withdrawal.
WCL, in his statement, apologized for “hurting” people’s feelings and causing discomfort to Indian players for WCL’s decision to celebrate the game first.
The match, scheduled for Sunday (today), would be the first between the two nations in the tournament. The Pakistani team is being directed by Mohammed Hafeez, while Yuvraj Singh leads the Indian side.
According to the WCL website, the tournament will run until August 2 with the participation of England, India, Pakistan, Australia, Western Indies and South Africa.
WCL will be held in four English cities: Birmingham, Northampton, Leeds and Leicester.
In development reaction, PPP senator, Sherry Rehman [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi’s steps by refusing to play against Pakistan, have turned sports into hate. “
“Defeat on the battlefield, the failure in diplomacy and now fleeing sports, India faces shame on each front,” said Rehman, who was part of a delegation that transmitted Pakistan’s position on the recent conflict with India, in a position in X.
“The behavior full of hate and prejudices of Indian players reflects their modi-WorseHipping mentality.”
“Sports are ambassadors of peace, tolerance and mutual respect, but India has also demonstrated a close mentality here. The Modi government shudders with the mere mention of Pakistan and its players choose to flee the field,” said Rehman.
She emphasized that the “agenda driven by the hatred of the Indians instead of sportsmanship raises a threat to regional peace and the spirit of sports.”
In May, Pakistan and India went back to a total war after a four -day military confrontation, the worst in decades, after the attack of the pahalgama of April 22 in the Kashmir occupied by India. New Delhi blamed Pakistan for the attack without evidence, launching the Sindoor operation. Islamabad has strongly denied accusations.
During the conflict, the chief coach of India, Gautam Gambhir, had asked for a complete stop of Crick’s commitments with Pakistan in any forum.
Recent tensions also briefly emitted a shadow on this year’s Asia Cup, with speculation that India would retire from the Asia Cup. However, the two teams are expected to face the tournament in September of this year.
