WCL 2025: 'I love India, I love Pakistan' - Australia legend breaks silence after Ind-Pak Cancellation

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Former Australia pacer Brett Lee has broken silence amid the cancellation of India vs Pakistan encounter in the World Championship of Legends tournament.

The match was cancelled due to widespread outrage and player withdrawals following the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 tourists.

Indian cricketers, including Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina, and Yusuf Pathan, refused to participate, citing geopolitical tensions and national sentiment. Dhawan had communicated his stance to WCL organizers as early as May 11, 2025.

Sponsor EaseMyTrip also withdrew support, emphasizing a "Bharat First" policy. The WCL, a T20 tournament featuring retired cricketers, issued an apology for causing discomfort, stating their intent was to create "happy memories."

The cancellation followed public backlash, exacerbated by controversial remarks from Pakistan's Shahid Afridi. Ticket holders were promised full refunds, and the tournament continues without the India-Pakistan fixture.

When asked about the incident, former Australian pacer spoke about his love for both countries and gave the clear message of moving forward.

"I love India, I love Pakistan. So I hope that they can get to a discretion where they can, like, appreciate themselves. But most importantly, we are here for a tournament. So Australia versus India versus South Africa. We are all inclusive. So what happened last night is what happened. We pushed forward," Brett Lee said at a WCL press conference.

The WCL 2025 is being played with six nations. Along with India, Pakistan and Australia, there are West Indies, South Africa and England who have participated in this tournament.