The second edition of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) in the UK has run into controversy after five prominent Indian players reportedly refused to participate in a scheduled match against Pakistan, objecting to Shahid Afridi’s inclusion in the opposition lineup.
Sources told Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net) that Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan and Harbhajan Singh have informed the WCL organisers of their unwillingness to play if Afridi features for Pakistan.
The tournament, featuring six teams — India, Pakistan, England, Australia, South Africa, and the West Indies — had confirmed fixtures, including a high-profile India-Pakistan showdown slated for Sunday in Birmingham. However, the anticipated clash is now clouded in uncertainty.
The five players have categorically stated they won’t take the field against a team that includes Afridi.
Tensions between the two countries have escalated since the cross-border military exchanges in May, following a deadly attack in Pahalgam, in Indian-administered Kashmir, that claimed 26 lives. India responded with missile and drone strikes on Pakistani targets, prompting a retaliatory attack from Pakistan. A ceasefire was later brokered, reportedly with intervention from US President Donald Trump.
The match, if it proceeds, would mark the first cricketing contest between India and Pakistan since those hostilities — a context that has further amplified public and media scrutiny.
Afridi, known for his outspoken stance on political issues, had earlier visited military installations in Pakistan in solidarity. His social media spats with several Indian players have added fuel to an already volatile situation.
Despite reports of the boycott, WCL organisers denied any formal communication from the Indian camp.
All fixtures, including the India-Pakistan match, were finalised with full consent from participating teams. Tickets for the game are sold out. As of now, the match is still scheduled to take place.
Notably, the same five Indian players had featured in last year’s inaugural edition of the WCL, where India defeated Pakistan in the final — with Afridi in the opposition ranks.
With the tournament poised for another marquee showdown, the situation threatens to overshadow the spirit of the event, highlighting once again how geopolitics continues to cast a long shadow over cricket’s fiercest rivalry.