India Champions captain Shikhar Dhawan made headlines during the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 after reacting sharply to a reporter’s question about facing Pakistan in a potential knockout match. The incident occurred just days after the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan group-stage match was cancelled due to political and public backlash.
Dhawan snaps at reporter over Pakistan clash question
Dhawan, who had withdrew from the original group match along with senior players like Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, and the Pathan brothers, appeared visibly frustrated when asked whether he would participate in a hypothetical semifinal against Pakistan.
“Bhaisaab, ye sawal aap galat jaga pe pooch rahe ho… agar main pehle bhi nahi khela, toh fir bhi nahin khelunga,” said Dhawan, making it clear he had no intention of revisiting the issue. The quote, which translates to: “You are asking the wrong question in the wrong place… If I didn’t play before, I won’t play again,” quickly went viral on social media.
WCL 2025 India–Pakistan match cancelled after political backlash
The India vs Pakistan WCL 2025 opener was scheduled for July 20 at Edgbaston but was called off due to strong public sentiment following the Pahalgam terror attack. The incident, which claimed multiple lives, led to a backlash in India, prompting several cricket legends to boycott the match.
Shahid Afridi and Salman Butt criticized India’s withdrawal, with Afridi saying, “there’s one bad egg that spoils everything for everyone else,” and Butt urging India to apply the same stance to ICC events and the 2028 Olympics, where cricket is expected to debut.
India Champions struggle in WCL as Pakistan dominate
Defending champions India Champions are off to a poor start in WCL 2025, with a heavy 88-run defeat to South Africa followed by a four-wicket loss to Australia. They currently sit at the bottom of the points table with semifinal qualification in doubt.
In contrast, Pakistan Champions are undefeated, winning three consecutive matches and sitting comfortably at the top of the table. The political tensions have done little to slow their performance on the field.
Asia Cup 2025 and future India–Pakistan encounters
Despite the WCL fallout, India and Pakistan are scheduled to meet again on September 14 during the Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE, according to the BCCI. That fixture would mark the first official meeting between the two nations since the Pahalgam attack and resulting military escalations.
Cricket diplomacy under pressure
The Dhawan outburst has reignited conversations around cricket diplomacy and the role of sport amid geopolitical conflict. With the 2028 Olympics on the horizon and potential ICC events ahead, how governing bodies handle India–Pakistan matchups could influence the future of bilateral cricket relations.
