Shahid Afridi’s response came after the cancellation of India and Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends. The match was to be played in Birmingham on 20 July, but Indian players including Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh refused to play with Pakistan. After this, the organizers canceled the match and apologized.

Shikhar Dhawan had already confirmed that he would not play any match against Pakistan in WCL while sharing a photo of his letter on social media. According to reports, Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan and Yusufu Pathan also decided to withdraw from the match. Now Pakistan Champions team captain Shahid Afridi’s response has come to this, he said that if there was no play, then he should not have come for the match.

Shahid Afridi after the cancellation of India Pakistan match statement of

Afridi criticized the decision of Indian players to withdraw from the match and said that the players of India Champions had also practiced. He said, “We have come here to play cricket. If India did not have to play the match against Pakistan, he should have refused to come here. You also practiced and then refused, suddenly everything happened in a day. The game brings people close, but politics comes in everything, how will we move forward. As long as we will not sit and talk, it will not improve.”

Some media reports also said that Shahid Afridi was the real reason for Indian players to withdraw from the match, who made statements against India after the Pahalgam attack. After this, Indians were angry. Afridi said that I am nothing in front of cricket. He said, “If I had known that the match is being canceled because of me, I do not even go to the field, but cricket should continue. There is nothing in front of Shahid Afridi cricket. The game comes first. Bringing politics or speaking of Indian players that do not play against Pakistan, do not play, do not play, sit. But cricket is bigger than Shahid Afridi.”

Shikhar Dhawan refused to play any match against Pakistan, he also wrote a letter to his team regarding it. Shikhar Dhawan said that nothing happens more than the country and he is standing on his decision that he will not play any match against Pakistan. Let us know that India vs Pakistan match was scheduled on Sunday, 20 July in the World Championship of Legends 2025. Now this match has been canceled.

Shikhar Dhawan’s statement

Dhawan announced this by making a post on social media. He said, “The steps taken on May 11, I still stand on the same way. My country is everything for me, and nothing happens than the country. Jai Hind.”

Along with this, Shikhar Dhawan also shared a screenshot of an email, which he sent to his team. In this he wrote, “It is formally confirmed that Shikhar Dhawan will not play in any match against the Pakistan team in the upcoming WCL League. This decision was already told during the discussion on calls and WhatsApp on May 11, 2025. Seeing the current situation and the current tension between India and Pakistan, Dhawan has taken this decision after discussion.”

Jo kadam 11 may ko liya, uspe aaj bhi waise hi khada hoon. Mera desh mere liye sab kuch hai, aur desh se badhkar kuch nahi hota.

Jai Hind! pic.twitter.com/glcwexcrnr

– shikhar dhawan (@sdhawan25) July 19, 2025

India vs Pakistan match canceled

The match between the Indian Champions and Pakistan Champions has been canceled today (July 20). Regarding this, the organizers issued an official statement and apologized to the Indian players and fans. The statement said that, “We inadvertently inconveniences the Digjas of Indian cricket, who made the country so proud. We also influenced the brands. That is why we have decided to cancel the India vs Pakistan match.”

Anger among Indian cricketers after Pahalgam attack

There was a terrorist attack in Pahalgam on 22 April 2025, in which the wires of the attackers were connected to Pakistan. After this, many Pakistani players including Shahid Afridi had poisoned India on social media. Indian players were angry about this attack and behavior of Pakistani cricketers. After this, Shikhar Dhawan had decided that he would not play any match against Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends.