 "India Champions’ boycott of WCL matches against Pakistan was triggered because of one player: Report")
India Champions created headlines in the 2025 World Championship of Legends (WCL) after refusing to play their matches against Pakistan Champions . The first walkover came in the group stage after Indian players and sponsors received backlash from the public on social media over the Pahalgam terror attack.
Indian players refused to take part in the group stage game and the organisers were forced to cancel it. One of the major sponsors of the tournament, also an Indian company, distanced itself from the match , stating that it doesn’t want to be part of any games involving Pakistan legends.
Meanwhile, the second walkover happened in the semifinal of WCL 2025, giving Pakistan a direct entry into the final.
Shahid Afridi reason behind India’s boycott call
Now, one of the Indian players, who did not want to be named, has told NDTV that the boycott was not only about the terror attack but also about Shahid Afridi. The legend admitted that the team already knew they might face Pakistan but were unsure about who would play in their squad.
The Indian legend said that the main reason behind the boycott was Shahid Afridi. Afridi has often made absurd remarks about India and has openly shown support for the Pakistan army, which many in India believe has links with terror groups that attack the country.
“It was a decision to not play against Shahid Afridi, given the statements he had made, and continues to make. It is an afterthought. We knew of our fixture against Pakistan but was not sure of the composition of the team,” the insider was quoted as saying by the media outlet.
Meanwhile, Afridi had said earlier that cricket should not mix with politics and that players should be good ambassadors for their countries after India legends boycotted the WCL games.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe India Champions team included stars like Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan, and Yusuf Pathan. Harbhajan and Yusuf are serving members of the Indian parliament, which was one of the reasons why they were targetted on social media.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) later announced that Pakistan would no longer take part in the WCL, accusing the organisers of bias. This after Pakistan Champions lost the final to South Africa Champions.
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