Harbhajan Singh, Irfan & Yusuf Pathan Boycott IND vs PAK WCL 2025 Match: Report

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WCL 2025: The high-voltage India vs Pakistan clash at the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, scheduled to be played on July 20 at Edgbaston, Birmingham, is reportedly heading towards cancellation amid growing tensions and mounting criticism.

According to RevSportz, senior Indian players including Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, and Yusuf Pathan have already opted out of the marquee fixture.

The situation escalated after recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 civilians lost their lives in Pahalgam following a brutal assault by armed militants on April 22. The group The Resistance Front, an affiliate of Lashkar-e-Taiba, had initially claimed responsibility.

India's response came in the form of "Operation Sindoor" - a series of missile strikes on militant hideouts linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba across the border. Pakistan retaliated with cross-border shelling and drone activity, which was reportedly thwarted by Indian forces.

Amid these heightened geopolitical tensions, fans took to social media to question Indian legends participating in a friendly fixture against Pakistan. The inclusion of Shahid Afridi in the Pakistan lineup particularly drew the ire of Indian supporters, with many calling out his history of anti-India remarks. Even Indian captain Yuvraj Singh and teammate Shikhar Dhawan were involved in a social media face-off with Afridi recently, which only added fuel to the controversy.

While the match is officially still scheduled to be played at 9:00 PM IST on July 20, reports suggest that more Indian players could withdraw in the coming hours. The situation remains fluid, with no official statement from the WCL organisers yet.

It is also important to note that the WCL is an independent franchise-based league and does not fall under the purview of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Therefore, the governing body has no authority over the participation of retired Indian cricketers in the event.

As tensions continue to rise, fans now await an official confirmation on whether the much-anticipated clash will go ahead - or be called off entirely.