The highly anticipated India vs. Pakistan match in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 has been officially canceled. The high-stakes, thrilling encounter between the arch rivals, scheduled to take place on Sunday at 9 PM IST in Edgbaston, Birmingham, was called off after Indian players chose to withdraw in protest of the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam region.
This has turned the tables of events in the ongoing WCL 2025 tournament, which features legendary cricketers from around the world. The tournament was off to a competitive start with Pakistan legends already having played one match, and India was set to play their first match against Pakistan. However, the historic rivalry between the two teams will not unfold as expected in the group stage.
Why was the India vs Pakistan WCL match cancelled?
The cancellation of the IND vs PAK match followed a series of strong statements and withdrawals by key India players. The main reason behind their refusal to play against Pakistan was the recent attack in Pahalgam in April 2025, where five Indian soldiers and many tourists were killed during a gunfight.
Former Indian cricketers, including Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh and Irfan Pathan, expressed their disapproval of playing against Pakistan amidst national mourning. Irfan Pathan, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir, was the first one to withdraw and informed the organizers that he did not wish to represent India in a match against Pakistan, followed by Dhawan and Harbhajan with similar interests. As more players began to withdraw, the Indian team was left with an incomplete squad, making it impossible to proceed with the match.
The WCL committee, after several discussions and pressure from stakeholders, finally announced that the match would not be played. The official confirmation came late Saturday night, ending all the speculation. The organisers acknowledged the emotional sentiment of players and supported their decision to step back from the game.
Dear all , pic.twitter.com/ViIlA3ZrLl
— World Championship Of Legends (@WclLeague) July 19, 2025
How did IND vs PAK Cancelled?
Social media support played a big role in the cancellation of the event. Fans, public figures, and several other players praised the former cricketers for their decision. Hashtags related to the attack and boycott of the match trended on Indian Twitter throughout the weekend, further adding more pressure on the organizers.
What happens to WCL 2025 Points table after IND vs PAK match cancelled?
With the match officially called off, all want to know how the tournament point table will be affected. The WCL authorities are yet to confirm whether points will be shared or if it will be treated as a no result. As per standard cricket rule, in the case of an unplayable match due to external factors, both teams are usually awarded one point each. However, since this match was cancelled due to withdrawal, there’s a possibility that Pakistan legends may be awarded with full points.
An official statement from the WCL committee is expected soon to clarify the status of points and any rescheduling possibilities, though a replay of the fixture seems highly unlikely but that all depends on the committee.
What’s ahead for WCL 2025?
This cancellation will be a significant loss for the tournament as it brings massive viewership and emotions related to players. For now the league has decided to move forward with the scheduled matches, and the committee has not commented on whether India legends will continue participating in the rest of the tournament or if more withdrawals are expected from the Indian side.
