Subhechcha Ganguly 
Fresh controversy has engulfed the World Championship of Legends (WCL) after the high-profile India vs Pakistan clash was called off in Birmingham. Pakistan Champions have refused to share points, demanding full credit after India Champions pulled out of the much-anticipated match.
The cancellation followed reports that several Indian players—including captain Yuvraj Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, and Yusuf Pathan—withdrew from the match. The game was set to mark the start of India’s title defence but was scrapped just hours before kickoff, with WCL issuing an apology for “unintentionally causing discomfort” to the Indian players.
India’s decision came in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam and the subsequent Operation Sindoor, which has heightened diplomatic strain between the two nations. As a result, some players reportedly opted out of the game on national and emotional grounds.
The WCL informed the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) that they, as organizers, were unable to facilitate the match, clarifying that the Indian team was not at fault. However, Pakistan Champions rejected the initial ruling to split the points and insisted on receiving both, arguing that India’s withdrawal should not penalize them.
“India backed out, not us,” a source from the Pakistan camp told ANI. Pakistan Champions owner Kamil Khan echoed the sentiment:
“We deserve the two points. If we reach the final, decisions about that will be made later. But as per the rules, we should be awarded the full points for this match.”
Pakistan, who were runners-up in the previous season, started this edition with a close five-run win over England. They are set to face South Africa next on Friday, while India will now begin their campaign against the same opponent on Tuesday.
