Harbhajan Singh and Yusuf Pathan have reportedly withdrawn from the highly anticipated World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 match against Pakistan, which is scheduled for Sunday. This match would have marked the first India vs Pakistan clash on a cricket field following the tragic Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025, which claimed 26 lives.
Though the two cricketers have not issued any official statements confirming their absence, sources suggest that the emotional and political fallout from the attack likely influenced their decision to opt out. The match, which involves former Indian cricketers, many of whom are World Cup winners, sparked backlash on social media due to its sensitive timing.
Political Connections and Possible Boycotts
Both Harbhajan Singh and Yusuf Pathan currently hold political positions. Harbhajan is a Rajya Sabha member representing the Aam Aadmi Party, while Yusuf Pathan is a Member of Parliament from Baharampur under the Trinamool Congress. Reports also suggest that Irfan Pathan may have also declined to participate in the match, although there has been no official confirmation on his status.
These withdrawals highlight the larger political tensions that continue to affect cricketing ties between India and Pakistan. Since bilateral cricket relations were cut off over a decade ago, the countries have only played in multi-nation ICC tournaments. Following the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, diplomatic ties have further deteriorated, casting doubt on future India-Pakistan cricket encounters, even at the international level.
Background of the WCL and Participating Squads
The World Championship of Legends 2025 is a cricket tournament held in England, featuring retired international players from various nations. The India Champions squad boasts well-known names like Yuvraj Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, and the Pathan brothers, along with several former domestic stars.
The Pakistan Champions team includes legends like Mohammad Hafeez (captain), Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal, and Saeed Ajmal among others. Despite the competitive nature of the tournament, the recent withdrawals by Indian players due to political and emotional reasons underline the continued strain in India-Pakistan relations, which extends beyond diplomacy and into the realm of sports.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.