Former Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi has broken his silence after the shocking last-minute cancellation of the much-anticipated World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 match between Pakistan Champions and India Champions. The match was scheduled to take place on Sunday at Edgbaston, but fans were left disappointed when it was suddenly called off.
According to various Indian media sources, the cancellation happened because some Indian players — including Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, and Shikhar Dhawan — refused to participate. The reports claimed that the players were uncomfortable playing due to sudden political tensions between India and Pakistan.
During a recent press conference, Afridi spoke openly and firmly about the situation. He highlighted the importance of keeping politics out of sports, especially cricket.
“We came here only to play cricket. I’ve always believed that cricket should be free from political issues. Players should act as ambassadors of peace, not bring shame to their countries,” Afridi said.
He didn’t hold back when it came to criticizing the Indian players’ change of plans. Afridi questioned why the Indian team even came to England if they were unsure about playing Pakistan.
“They arrived here, even held practice sessions, and then suddenly refused to play. If they had objections, they should’ve said so before coming. Changing their decision at the last moment is unfair,” he added.
Afridi Reacts to Alleged Conditions Set by India
Reports also surfaced that India had set unusual conditions before agreeing to play the match. One of those reported conditions was that Shahid Afridi should not take part in the game or even be present at the stadium. Afridi responded to this with a bit of sarcasm.
“I wasn’t even going to play,” Afridi said with a smile, brushing off the condition lightly.
Pakistan Champions Owner Speaks on Tournament Progress
Kamil Khan, the owner of the Pakistan Champions team, assured everyone that the WCL 2025 will continue without disruption. He confirmed that the tournament schedule remains unchanged despite the controversy.
“All the remaining matches will take place as planned. The tournament is going on as scheduled. If both Pakistan and India qualify for the semifinals or the final, we will handle the situation accordingly,” he said.
He also mentioned that since India refused to play, Pakistan will be awarded two points as per the tournament rules.
“We are getting the points because that’s what the rulebook says. If the two teams don’t play, the team that’s available gets the points,” he added.
Afridi: “Cricket Should Unite, Not Divide”
Afridi, who is now 48 years old, used this moment to speak about the power of sports in bringing people together. He said that open communication is the only way to solve differences.
“Cricket brings people closer. But when politics interferes, we only move backward. Unless we sit down and talk, nothing will improve. Staying silent or avoiding each other just adds to the problem,” he said.
He also spoke about the importance of respect and friendly relations between players, saying that the game is not just about competition, but about mutual understanding.
“We came here to enjoy the game, to meet other players, and to have respectful conversations. But unfortunately, sometimes one wrong attitude spoils the whole environment,” he added.
“Cricket Is Bigger Than Any Player – Even Me,” Says Afridi
Speaking about the personal attacks and the blame game around the canceled match, Afridi said that if he had known he was the reason the match was being canceled, he would have stayed away on his own.
“If I knew the match was being stopped because of me, I wouldn’t have even gone to the ground. Cricket should never stop because of one person. What is Shahid Afridi in front of cricket? Nothing,” he humbly stated.
He ended his talk by saying that cricket is bigger than any individual, and should always come first — ahead of politics and personal opinions.
“Cricket is the biggest thing. It’s bigger than me, bigger than any player. If someone doesn’t want to play because of personal or political issues, then fine — don’t play. But don’t stop the game. Let cricket go on,” Afridi concluded.
READ MORE: Pakistan vs India in World Championship of Legends 2025: Match Details, Live Streaming & More
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