SAMAJ WEEKLY UK
Bal Ram Sampla
Geopolitics
The cancellation of the India vs Pakistan match in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 on July 20th represents one of the most unprofessional displays in recent cricket history. What makes this debacle even more inexcusable is not just that it happened, but when it happened – at the eleventh hour, leaving organizers, fans, and the sport itself in shambles.
Let’s be crystal clear about the timeline here. The Pahalgam terrorist attack that these players now cite as their reason for withdrawal occurred on April 22nd, 2025. The subsequent military escalation between India and Pakistan played out through May. A ceasefire was declared on May 10th.
Yet somehow, prominent Indian cricketers like Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina, and Yusuf Pathan waited until the actual match day – July 20th – to suddenly develop a conscience about playing Pakistan.
If the Pahalgam attack and the subsequent tensions made playing Pakistan morally unacceptable, then that position should have been clear in May, not July.
The timing of this withdrawal is not just questionable – it’s not professional!
Instead, these players chose to create chaos on match day, leaving everyone scrambling and the tournament’s credibility in tatters. This level of unprofessionalism would be unacceptable in any other industry, yet somehow in cricket, we’re expected to applaud it as a noble gesture.
Genuine patriotic protest requires conviction – the conviction to take a stand when it matters, not when it’s convenient. Rosa Parks didn’t wait until she was comfortable to refuse to give up her bus seat. Muhammad Ali didn’t wait for public opinion to shift before opposing the Vietnam War.
These cricketers had months to make a principled stand. Instead, they chose until the very last moment.
Conclusion
The Indian players’ withdrawal from the WCL 2025 match against Pakistan might have been dressed up as principled protest, but the timing reveals it for what it really was as totally unprofessionalism.
Cricket deserves better. Fans deserve better.
References
1. https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/wcl-ind-vs-pak-cancelled-in-veterans-series-shikhar-dhawan-cites-geopolitical-situation-1495968
2. https://www.businesstoday.in/india/story/india-vs-pakistan-wcl-match-called-off-after-backlash-heres-what-we-know-so-far-485399-2025-07-20?utm_source=btweb_story_share
