Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has voiced his disappointment after several ex-Indian cricketers pulled out of a highly anticipated World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 match against Pakistan. The match, originally scheduled for Sunday, July 20, was called off following concerns raised by Indian players in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
Big names like Yuvraj Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa, and Varun Aaron were all part of the India Champions squad. However, citing discomfort over playing against Pakistan under current circumstances, many chose not to take part — a move that did not sit well with Afridi.
“Cricket Should Be Kept Away from Politics,” Says Afridi
Speaking to the Times of India, Afridi criticized the last-minute decision and emphasized that sports should not be influenced by political issues.
“We are here to play cricket, and I’ve always said that cricket should be kept away from politics — it should move forward. A player should be a good ambassador, not a source of embarrassment for their country,” Afridi said.
Afridi expressed confusion over the timing of the withdrawal, pointing out that the players had already arrived at the venue and even participated in practice sessions before suddenly opting out.
“If [India] didn’t want to play against Pakistan, they should’ve refused before coming here. But now you’ve arrived, even held practice sessions, and then suddenly changed everything in a single day.”
“Sport Is Bigger Than Any Individual”
Afridi went on to describe sport, particularly cricket, as a powerful force for unity and communication. While he didn’t name any individuals directly, he alluded to certain players who, in his view, let external pressures cloud the purpose of the event.
“Sports bring people closer, but if politics gets involved in everything, how will we move forward? Until we sit together and discuss issues, nothing will improve — lack of communication only makes things worse.”
The former Pakistan skipper stressed that cricket should not be hijacked by political sentiments and personal decisions. He even downplayed his own stature in comparison to the spirit of the game.
“If I had known the match was being stopped because of me, I wouldn’t have even gone to the ground. But cricket should go on. What is Shahid Afridi in front of cricket? Nothing. The game comes first.”
Afridi concluded with a strong message: if a player is unwilling to compete against a particular country, they should quietly step aside rather than jeopardize the entire event.
“Cricket is bigger than Shahid Afridi. If an Indian cricketer says he won’t play against Pakistan — then don’t play, just sit out. But let the game go on.”
