According to Some Media reports, Retired Indian Cricketers Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan and Yusuf Pathan are set to skip the World Championship of Legends (WCL) match against Pakistan Champions, which is scheduled for the upcoming Sunday, 20th July 2025.
Here’s the Reason:
As of now, no official Statement has been made by the players. The decision, reportedly made due to political reasons, with close sources confirming that the boycott is a personal choice driven by national sentiment after the recent Pahalgam Attack.
The World Championship of Legends (WCL) is a tournament which gives retired cricketing legends from around the world an opportunity to show if they still have the skills they used to in their playing years to entertain fans once again. Some of the very popular names, such as AB de Villiers, Yuvraj Singh, Chris Gayle, and many more, have gained attention after selectors named them in their respective squads.
The absence of Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, and Irfan Pathan will probably impact the most important and also the most controversial clash of the tournament between India and Pakistan.
All three players have had reasonable international careers for India. Harbhajan Singh, India’s one of the greatest spinners with fiery on-field presence, especially in the matches against Pakistan, and who does not remember Irfan Pathan’s first over hat-trick against Pakistan in 2006?. While Yusuf Pathan did not have a very long career, but played some impactful knocks in his 79-match international career. The countrymen will see their decision to pull out of the game against the Pakistan Champions as a strong statement amid the political tensions between the two neighbors.
Boycott Over National Sentiment, But Match To Go Ahead
We’re yet to receive any official statements from the players, but the trustable sources have confirmed that the boycott is personal choice. Many stars like Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Shikhar Dhawan are up for the selection, while the boycott is due to national sentiment it wouldn’t make any hindrance for the match as its expected to be played as planned.
The tension between two nations hasn’t impeded the entertainment that various sports provide for the first time, and since Cricket is a mainstream sport in both nations, big names often display protests on the cricketing stage.
WCL is yet to issue a proclamation and the social media has shown both sides, some appears disappointed over the trio’s decision while others have taken this decision in a more complimentary way but the both reactions are quite understandable as the boycott would make the fans miss out on these legends to clash against their arch rivals but on the other perspective, the boycott sounds righteous as well since the war and how some Pakistani Cricket Legends have addressed India as a nation in their public speech multiple times.
Squads For The Tournament :
Australia Champions: Brett Lee, Shaun Marsh, Chris Lynn, Moises Henriques, Ben Cutting, D’Arcy Short, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Peter Siddle, Callum Ferguson, Dan Christian, Ben Dunk, Steve O’Keefe, Rob Quiney, John Hastings.
England Champions: Eoin Morgan, Moeen Ali, Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Samit Patel, Liam Plunkett, Chris Tremlett, Ajmal Shahzad, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Phil Mustard, Tim Ambrose, Ryan Sidebottom, Stuart Meaker, Usman Afzaal.
India Champions: Yuvraj Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Piyush Chawla, Stuart Binny, Varun Aaron, Vinay Kumar, Abhimanyu Mithun, Siddarth Kaul, Gurkeerat Maan.
South Africa Champions: AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, Chris Morris, Albie Morkel, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Wayne Parnell, JJ Smuts, Hardus Viljoen, Richard Levi, Dane Vilas, SJ Erwee, Duanne Olivier, Morne van Wyk, Aaron Phangiso.
West Indies Champions: Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith, Sheldon Cottrell, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Chadwick Walton, Shannon Gabriel, Ashley Nurse, Fidel Edwards, William Perkins, Sulieman Benn, Dave Mohammed, Nikita Miller.
Pakistan Champions: Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Sharjeel Khan, Wahab Riaz, Asif Ali, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Aamer Yamin, Sohail Khan, Sohail Tanvir.
