The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a total ban on its players competing in future editions of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) on Sunday, 3 August 2025, stating "bias" for the organizers and a lack of sporting integrity. The decision came in the aftermath of India's forfeiture of both the group-stage match and semifinal clash against Pakistan, which the PCB claims were unjustly awarded in India’s favor. The board voiced its discontent following a virtual board of governors meeting chaired by PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi.

In its official statement, the PCB criticized the WCL for rewarding points to India despite its voluntary withdrawal, terming the decision "tainted with hypocrisy and bias." The statement further noted, “The PCB reviewed with considerable disappointment WCL's appalling conduct of awarding points to a willfully forfeiting team,” and expressed concern over press releases by the WCL that allegedly favored a "specific nationalistic narrative." The Indian squad comprising Shikhar Dhawan, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan, and Harbhajan Singh had refused to play Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s subsequent ‘Operation Sindoor.’

Pakistan, as a result of the forfeiture, advanced directly to the WCL final. However, the PCB declared that the tournament's decisions were driven not by cricketing merit but by political sentiment. “The cancellation was not based on cricketing merit but on appeasing a specific nationalistic narrative,” the board said. It warned that such bias “sends an unacceptable message to the international sporting community.”

PCB slams “farcical” WCL apology, cites compromised neutrality

While the WCL organizers, co-owned by Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn, issued a public apology, saying, “We sincerely apologize again for hurting the sentiments,” the PCB rejected the gesture outright. “The WCL's apology… whilst being farcical, inadvertently acknowledges that the cancellation was not based on cricketing merit,” the PCB said. It argued that the decision to cancel the games reflected external political influence, cloaked in the name of sensitivity.

See Also: 'You can't compare me to Dhoni'- AB de Villiers' stunning reply to retirement question during WCL 2025

The board concluded that it had no option but to implement a permanent ban, stating, “The PCB can no longer condone participation in an event where the fundamental principles of fair play and unbiased administration are compromised.” Sources close to the matter revealed that WCL’s Indian promoters had already been contemplating dropping the Pakistan team from future editions.

When India Champions chased down the target against the West Indies in their last group-stage clash of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, they qualified for the semifinal, where they would face their arch-rival, Pakistan. But, during their group-stage clash, the game was canceled after the Indian players maintained their stance of not facing this opponent.

The recent news has revealed that they will keep going with the same decision and boycott the semifinal clash against the Mohammed Hafeez-led side. Generally, in such cases, the victory is awarded to the opposition side. That will see the Hafeez-led side advancing into the final of the tournament.

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‘Indian players have refused to play against Pakistan in the WCL semifinal scheduled for Thursday. Retired international players representing India Champions have refused to play against Pakistan Champions in the semi-final of the World Championship of Legends in Birmingham.’ The recent reports claimed.

India Champions boycott WCL 2025 semifinal against Pakistan Champions

Earlier on July 30, the main sponsor of the WCL for the India side, EaseMyTrip, decided to take their name off the event in case the Blue Brigade face the Pakistan side in the semifinal, reaffirming the longstanding policy of non-participation in any match involving the neighbours.

‘The people of India have spoken, and we hear them. EaseMyTrip will not be associated with the India vs Pakistan match in WCL. Some things are bigger than sport. Nation first, business later, always. We applaud Team India @India_Champions for their outstanding performance in the World Championship of Legends. You’ve made the nation proud. However, the upcoming semi-final against Pakistan is not just another game. Terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand.’ The co-founder of the travel-tech company, Nishant Pitti, said in a statement.

It has been a tough three weeks for the Indian champions, who lost their opening infield clash against the Proteas before facing another defeat against Australia. But their only and first victory over the Caribbean side was enough to get them into the semifinal of the competition. South Africa, on the other hand, will lock horns with Australia in the second semifinal.

Sponsor EasyMyTrip has taken its name out of the upcoming potential semifinal clash between the India Champions and Pakistan Champions during the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Just hours after the Blue Brigade earned a vital victory against the West Indies, the announcement was made.

On July 30, the founder of EaseMyTrip, Nishant Pitti, wrote a message on X, where he publicly stated that they won’t be supporting the clash between the neighbours in the WCL. He congratulated the Yuvraj Singh-led side for their success in making it into the semis, but stated that they won’t cheer for ‘terror and cricket’ together.

See Also: [WATCH] Dinesh Karthik and Michael Vaughan react to Shubman Gill's performance in ENG vs IND 2025 Test series

‘We applaud Team India @India_Champions for their outstanding performance in the World Championship of Legends, you’ve made the nation proud. However, the upcoming semi-final against Pakistan is not just another game. Terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand. EaseMyTrip, we stand with India. We cannot support any event that attempts to normalize relations with a country that promotes terrorism.’ Pitti wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

 EaseMyTrip takes huge decision on India Champions vs Pakistan Champions semifinal in WCL 2025

‘The people of India have spoken, and we hear them. EaseMyTrip will not be associated with the India vs Pakistan match in WCL. Some things are bigger than sport. Nation first, business later. Always. Jai Hind.’ He added. Earlier, during the group stage of the tournament, Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, and many notable players pulled out of the competition.

India vs Pakistan – WCL Semi-Final

We applaud Team India @India_Champions for their outstanding performance in the World Championship of Legends, you’ve made the nation proud.

However, the upcoming semi-final against Pakistan is not just another game, Terror and cricket cannot…

— Nishant Pitti (@nishantpitti) July 30, 2025

‘Brother, you're asking this question at the wrong place right now. If you're asking that, do you think I’m going to answer? You shouldn't be asking this question. And if I haven’t played earlier, then I still won’t play.’ Dhawan said in a cold voice in a video that went viral. After the stance from the Indian players, WCL canceled the group-stage clash between the two sides.

Thanks to Stuart Binny’s 50* off 21 balls and Yuvraj Singh’s fiery knock, India chased down the target of 145 runs in just 13.2 overs, which helped them boost the net run rate and move over the England Champions in the points table.

India Champions secured their first victory over West Indies Champions with all-round effort. The game was hosted in Leicester, and India chased 145 runs in 13.2 overs, while winning by 5 wickets in the 15th game of IPL 2025.

West Indies batted first after winning the toss, but they didn't have a great start during the powerplay. Lendl Simmons, Chris Gayle, and Chadwick Walton were in the pavilion before long. India's bowlers, particularly Piyush Chawla, bowling tight lines and keeping the opposition on their toes. Chawla collected 3 major wickets and didn't allow the West Indies batsmen to settle.

The lone warrior of West Indies was Kieron Pollard. He scored a magnificent 74 not out from 43 deliveries, hitting 8 sixes. He kept his team in the hunt while wickets continued to fall around him. West Indies had to settle for 144 runs for 9 wickets in 20 overs.

India's batting too was shaky in the beginning. Robin Uthappa, Shikhar Dhawan, and Suresh Raina got out early. The game was looking close at 60 for 4. But Stuart Binny turned things around. He played with immense intent and got 50 not out off only 21 balls. He played the ball with precision and got to the boundary frequently.

Yusuf Pathan also joined the party and smashed 21 not out off only 7 balls, ending the game in style. India reached the target in only 13.2 overs and recorded a comfortable victory. It was a good collective effort of India, with both the bat and ball. West Indies again struggled, and except for Pollard, nobody came up in their team. 

ALSO READ: Asia Cup 2025: Best playing XI for India

Twitter reactions after INDCH wins 15th match of WCL 2025

India Champions have qualified for the semifinals of the WCL

They have defeated the West Indies Champions

India Champions will have to play Pakistan Champions in the WCL semifinals

What would happen now?

Will the legends forfeit that match so that Pakistan goes into the… pic.twitter.com/0VIIuz5Gvo

— Madhur Kapoor (@MadhurKapoor12) July 29, 2025

India qualified for semifinals even after winning just 1 match out of 5. They were struggling at 52/4 in 7.1 overs then smashed 96 runs in the next 6.1 overs 🤣🤣🤣😭😭 aisi leagues me hmesha match fix hote. 🤡🤡#WCL2025 pic.twitter.com/xXXbmo3OrL

— Being Arun (@Snckmagnet456) July 29, 2025

🔥 India finishes their WCL journey with a victory!
First win in the bag as they take down the Windies by 5 wickets! 💥 The WCL campaign may be done, but this win proves they’re never out of fight!#WCL2025 | #CatchEveryMatch | #DontStopStreaming | #tapmad pic.twitter.com/eHmuZc4rjD

— tapmad (@tapmadtv) July 29, 2025

India Champions have done it! 🫡🇮🇳
The defending champions of World Championship of Legends have made it to the semi- finals of WCL season 2!
They have beaten WI Champions in 14.2 overs and will now face last year's runners up and arch rivals Pakistan Champs in the Semis!
🫡 pic.twitter.com/7JxgcmFAMT

— Souvik 45© (@SouvikPurkaya16) July 29, 2025

WICH 144/9 (20)
INDCH 148/5 (13.2)

India Champions won by 5 wkts#WICHvsINDCH #INDCHvsWICH pic.twitter.com/txVmnSeao2

— OK Media Updates (@OkmediaUpdates) July 29, 2025

India Champions win in 13.2 overs to qualify, will face Pakistan in semi-final#WCL2025 #WCL #Cricket pic.twitter.com/B9liPPtqOe

— OfflineHacker (@crict_enthst_14) July 29, 2025

India Champions storm into the semi-finals of WCL 2025! 💥
Chased down the target in under 14 overs, thanks to a blazing knock from Stuart Binny.

[Cricket, CricTracker, West Indies Champions, India Champions, WCL 2025, Dwayne Smith] pic.twitter.com/0jyYCYFTuq

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) July 29, 2025

India Champions produced a strong all-round effort to defeat West Indies Champions by 5 wickets in Match 15 of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 at Grace Road, Leicester. After electing to bowl first, India made early inroads, reducing the West Indies side to 57/6. However, Kieron Pollard's explosive innings helped them set a challenging target of 144/9 in 20 overs.

West Indies Champions Innings

Captain Kieron Pollard was the mainstay of the innings; he blasted 74 unbeaten off only 43 balls, which comprised 8 sixes and 3 fours. After losing top- and middle-order batsmen very quickly, Pollard coming from the other end gave the total some respectability. Dwayne Smith (20 off 21) and Dwayne Bravo (9 off 20) were too cautious against Indian bowlers, and hence they scored at a slow rate. Piyush Chawla was brilliant with the ball, finishing with figures of 3/18 in his 4 overs, while Stuart Binny (2/17) and Varun Aaron (2/40) also got some wickets. At one point, the Windies were 57/6 before Pollard’s explosive finish pushed them to 144/9.

India Champions Innings

Chasing 145, India Champions made light work of the target, reaching 148/5 in just 13.2 overs. Stuart Binny continued his all-round brilliance, scoring 50 off 21 balls to set the tone for the chase. Shikhar Dhawan played sensibly and scored 25 off 18 balls, while Yuvraj Singh was brisk enough to score 21 off 11 balls to seal the match. For the West Indies, Dwayne Smith (2/27) and Dwayne Bravo (2/47) got some wickets, but they were unable to control the Indian batsmen Barrage. Sheldon Cottrell also took 1/33 in his 4 overs. With this victory, India Champions created their berth in the semi-finals of WCL 2025.

See Also: WCL 2025: Points Table, Leading run scorers and wicket takers after INDCH vs WICH match 15

India Champions vs West Indies Champions: Scorecard

West Indies Champions – 144/9 (20 Overs)

India Champions – 148/5 (13.2 Overs)

In an exciting match at Leeds, England Champions won against India Champions by 23 runs in the World Championship of Legends 2025. Ravi Bopara was the star of the show, scoring a brilliant unbeaten 110 runs off just 55 balls. His knock helped England for a big total of 223 for 3 in 20 overs.

After losing Phil Mustard early, Bopara and Ian Bell (54) put together a strong partnership. Towards the end, Moeen Ali gave the innings a big push with his quick 33 from only 13 balls. The Indian bowlers couldn’t stop the run flow, especially in the last few overs.

India Champions, led by Yuvraj Singh, decided to bowl first after winning the toss. The team came into the match with little rest, having played against Australia just a day before. They had already lost to South Africa and Australia, and their first match against Pakistan didn’t happen because of political tensions.

Chasing 224, India lost Robin Uthappa for zero runs. Shikhar Dhawan scored 17 runs, and Ambati Rayudu scored 28 runs with 3 sixes. Yuvraj Singh fought hard with 38 runs, and Stuart Binny hit a quick fire 35 runs in 13 balls. Yusuf Pathan kept hopes alive with a powerful 52 from 29 balls. But England bowlers kept striking. Shahzad picked up 4 wickets, and Bopara also got one. India ended with 200 for 8 in 20 overs, falling short by 23 runs. It was a tough night for India.

ALSO READ: "Jeet Ka Jalwa, Dushman Dhal Gaya!" – South Africa Champions Crush Australia Champions by 95 Runs

Twitter reactions after ENDCH wins 13th match of WCL 2025

England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 champions beat India 🇮🇳 champions by 23 runs. India 🇮🇳 champions have not won a single game yet & and are currently at the bottom on the points table .#ENGvIND #INDvENG #ENGvsIND #INDvsENG #WCL2025 pic.twitter.com/Ew3BOo51XZ

— Fourth Umpire (@UmpireFourth) July 27, 2025

INDIA CHAMPIONS ELIMINATED FOR WCL 2025.#ENGvsIND #WCL25 #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/0tAXVkL0bw

— Ahsan Shah 💚🇵🇰 (@ahsan_shah90) July 27, 2025

Back to back 50’s this weekend💪#WCLIndiaChampions #WorldChampionshipOfLegends #OnceAChampionAlwaysAChampion #WCL2025 #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/3PjVOG8TFW

— WCL India Champions (@India_Champions) July 27, 2025

Yusuf Pathan turns up the heat once again – a blistering 23-ball half-century showcasing pure dominance!

[Cricket, CricTracker, India Champions, England, Champions, WCL 2025, Yusuf Pathan] pic.twitter.com/xoqkrUNmmt

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) July 27, 2025

Q - If Pakistan reaches WCL Semi Final, will India Play ?

Shikhar Dhawan - That's the wrong question, If this happens, I won't be playing against Pakistan once again.

Share your thoughts on this? #WCL25 #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/IZWdBofXa1

— Nibraz Ramzan (@nibraz88cricket) July 27, 2025

England Champions won by 23 runs!
vs India Champions | 13th Match, WCL 2025

England Champions: 223/3 (20 overs)
India Champions: 200/8 (20 overs)

A powerful all-round performance and a solid defense seals the deal for the Indian legends! https://t.co/7Wm3X0Tlrs#AsiaCup2025… pic.twitter.com/N3HDxNDswb

— SPORTS WIZ (@mysportswiz) July 27, 2025

Australia Champions won a nail-bitting game against India Champions. In this match full of twists, Chasing a big target of 204, they reached the total with just one ball left, thanks to a massive six by Callum Ferguson off Irfan Pathan. Australia ended on 207 for 6 in 19.5 overs and handed India their second straight loss in the tournament.

Ferguson came in when things looked tough for Australia at 65 for 4 in the 8th over. But he stayed calm and played a brilliant unbeaten knock of 70 runs from just 38 balls, hitting five fours and four sixes. Dan Christian also played a handy knock, scoring 39 off 25 balls, with five boundaries and a six.

For India, Piyush Chawla was the best with the ball, taking 3 wickets for 36 runs. Harbhajan Singh picked up two wickets and Vinay Kumar took one. Earlier, India got off to a flying start after being asked to bat. Openers Robin Uthappa and Shikhar Dhawan added 57 runs in just 5 overs. But Dan Christian changed the game with two quick wickets in the 6th over, removing Uthappa for 37 and Rayudu for a duck.

Dhawan well played with classic shots of 91 from 60 balls. He was well supported by Yusuf Pathan, who smashed 52 not out from just 23 balls. Together, they added 100 runs for the fifth wicket and helped India post a big total of 203 for 4 in 20 overs. With this win, Australia Champions moved to second place on the WCL 2025 points table with two wins in three games in WCL 2025. India Champions are still looking for their first win in WCL 2025.

ALSO READ: WCL 2025, Match 10: India Champions vs Australia Champions full match highlights

Twitter reactions after AUSCH wins 10th match of WCL 2025

What a match 🥳
Back to back Jackpots 💰💰 WON ✅

Congratulations 🎉🥳👏
Australia champions 10 paisa Jackpot 💰 win pass ✅

Have fun, Good Night 💤
See you tomorrow 👍#WCL2025 #WCL #WCL25 pic.twitter.com/YTwmuW4K0Z

— Cricket Insider (@theDcricket2O) July 26, 2025

Two matches, two ducks for Ambati Rayudu in the ongoing World Championship of Legend.

PC: Fancode#AmbatiRayudu #WCL2025 #CricTracker pic.twitter.com/tsMpvvwjkK

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) July 26, 2025

A magical performance by Callum Ferguson! his quick fifty clinches the match for Australia Champions against India Champions.#CallumFerguson #WCL2025 #INDCvsAUSC #CricTracker pic.twitter.com/B6F2ARj15t

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) July 26, 2025

WCL: Australia Defeated IND

Irfan Pathan failed to Defend 13 runs in Last over pic.twitter.com/TbHKoFh0kJ

— 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒔 (@Shebas_10dulkar) July 26, 2025

Vintage fireworks! 💥 Shikhar Dhawan’s classy 9️⃣1️⃣* and Yusuf Pathan’s explosive 5️⃣2️⃣* light up the WCL 2025 against Australia Champions! 🇮🇳🔥 #WCL2025 #ShikharDhawan #YusufPathan #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/hejlRRD9Bq

— InsideSport (@InsideSportIND) July 26, 2025

The most WANTED gloves in the world 💥#WCL2025 #WCLIndiaChampions #WorldChampionshipOfLegends #OnceAChampionAlwaysAChampion #IndvsAus pic.twitter.com/7r4bytyIjC

— WCL India Champions (@India_Champions) July 26, 2025

The South Africa Champions, who showed in Northampton on Tuesday, won against the India Champions by a huge margin of 88 runs (DLS method) in the World Championship of Legends 2025. It was AB de Villiers who stole the spotlight once again. Coming in when South Africa needed a boost, he played a classy knock of 63 not out from just 30 balls, scoring 4 sixes and 3 fours. AB showed his class and power. Thanks to his power hitting, South Africa posted a strong total of 208 for 6 in 20 overs. Hashim Amla gave a smooth start with 22 runs, while Jack Rudolph (24) and Sarel Erwee (15) kept the scoreboard ticking.

India Champions did try to pull things back in the middle overs, with Yusuf Pathan and Piyush Chawla taking two wickets each. But once AB got going, there was no stopping him. Chasing a tough target of 209 in a rain-shortened game, India Champions never looked in control. They were 28 for 4 in the powerplay, with Robin Uthappa (2), Shikhar Dhawan (1), Suresh Raina (16), and Ambati Rayudu (0) all falling cheaply. Wayne Parnell bowled a brilliant opening spell and took 2 early wickets. Then Aaron Phangiso took over, grabbing 3 important wickets and breaking India’s hopes.

Imran Tahir also took 2 wickets, making sure India never recovered. Only Stuart Binny scored an unbeaten 37 off 30 balls. But with no support from the other end, India Champions could only manage 111 for 9 in 18.2 overs. It was a complete team performance by South Africa Champions: solid batting, sharp bowling, and a big win to top it all.

ALSO READ: Top 3 bowling performances of Yuzvendra Chahal in ODIs

Twitter reactions after South Africa Champions Crush India Champions by 88 Runs

South Africa Champions seal a massive 88-run win (DLS) as one of the floodlights goes off mid-game.

[Cricket, CricTracker, India Champions, South Africa Champions, WLC 2025] pic.twitter.com/RqeUFgLZpW

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) July 22, 2025

India Champions vs South Africa Champions

SACH 208/6 (20)
INDCH 111/9 (18.2)

South Africa Champions won by 88 runs (DLS method)

IndianSportsFans
01: 03 HRS #INDvsSA #ABdeVilliers #WCL2025 #WCL25 #AnshulKamboj #PakistanCricket #Pakistan #banvspak pic.twitter.com/vOJQ3KFh1O

— Indian Sports Fans. Fan Curated & Original (@IndianSportFan) July 22, 2025

South Africa Champions won by 88 runs (DLS method).India team smoked #WCL2025 pic.twitter.com/5trEfI4Lkk

— bossman (@thebossman0) July 22, 2025

South Africa beat India by 88 runs (DLS method) in their World Championship of Legends match in Northampton. pic.twitter.com/pFzRxQjohp

— SA Cricket magazine (@SACricketmag) July 22, 2025

India left stunned as South Africa claims a sensational win! 🚀 AB de Villiers’ masterclass guide South Africa Champions to a massive 88-run (DLS) victory!#WCL2025 | #CatchEveryMatch | #DontStopStreaming | #tapmad pic.twitter.com/nG6rxyiLNy

— tapmad (@tapmadtv) July 22, 2025

South Africa Legends crush India Legends by 88 runs (DLS) — total domination! 💥🇿🇦

Image Credit: Fancode#INDvsENG #WCL2025 #cricket #cricketnews pic.twitter.com/mIgunUgdwR

— CricInformer (@CricInformer) July 22, 2025

Floodlights on fire at Northampton’s County Ground, in the World Champions Cricket League!!

Match called off with India on 111/9 chasing 209 to win, SA winning by DLS!!

Commentators pretty stunned! 😳 pic.twitter.com/e17h1dGKe6

— James Preston (@JamesPrestonZA) July 22, 2025

SA Champions defeated India Champions by a whopping margin of 88 runs !!

Looks like Yuvraj didn't bat - maybe injured pic.twitter.com/h37Xvinlb8

— Madhur Kapoor (@MadhurKapoor12) July 22, 2025

AB de Villiers is back, and what a way to return! The South African great showed his class once again, scoring a brilliant 63 not out from just 30 balls against the India Champions in the WCL 2025 match held in Northampton on July 22 (Tuesday). His knock included 3 fours and 4 sixes, with a stunning finish where he smashed 6, 1, 6, 4, and 6 in the last five balls he faced.

After scoring just 3 runs in the previous game against the West Indies, AB looked eager to make a big impact. He got going by hitting Piyush Chawla to the boundary off only the second ball he faced. From there, he attacked every bowler that came his way, including Yusuf Pathan and Vinay Kumar.

He added 69 valuable runs for the sixth wicket and helped South Africa Champions cross the 200-run mark. AB reached his fifty in just 28 balls, reminding fans of the magic he always brings to the game.

Now leading the South Africa side in WCL 2025, de Villiers last played professional cricket in 2021 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL. He scored 5,162 runs in the league only behind David Warner among overseas players. South Africa had won their previous game against West Indies in a bowl-out, but AB’s powerful knock is surely one of the best moments of the tournament so far.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Bare-footed Sai Sudharsan shadow practicing in rain ahead of ENG vs IND 4th Test, sparks rumors of him in playing XI

Twitter reactions after AB de Villiers Rolls Back the Years with Blazing 28-Ball Fifty at 41

𝑽𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝑨𝑩 𝒅𝒆 𝑽𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚! 🥹

A stunning 28-ball half-century lit up the clash against India in the WCL. 🔥🐐#WCL2025 #ABD #Cricket #Sportskeeda pic.twitter.com/ivCdf7jB0x

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) July 22, 2025

Take a bow Mr.360 👽

Ab de Villiers smashed a 50 in just 28 balls against India in the WCL. 💀🫡 pic.twitter.com/7L5duHnBBP

— CricXtasy (@CricXtasy) July 22, 2025

63 runs in just 30 balls with 4 sixes and 3 fours with a strike rate of 206 AB de villiers the greatest there was the greatest there is the greatest there ever will be 🐐 pic.twitter.com/qa0VOES6nD

— Kevin (@imkevin149) July 22, 2025

Ball by ball highlights of AB de Villiers' 63*(30) vs India legends. Still got it.🐐pic.twitter.com/8S1sty9lKU

— . (@ABDszn17) July 22, 2025

1st fifty for AB de Villiers after almost 1500 days with a detached retina 🐐 pic.twitter.com/5wICZqeaEA

— Kevin (@imkevin149) July 22, 2025

AB DE VILLIERS SMASHED FIFTY FROM JUST 28 BALLS IN WCL 🐐

- The magic of AB at the age of 41. pic.twitter.com/9sxHZthb0E

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 22, 2025

AB DE VILLIERS SHOW AGAINST INDIA CHAMPIONS IN WCL 🙇🔥

➡️ 61* runs.
➡️ 30 balls.
➡️ 4 sixes.
➡️ 3 fours.

29 Runs by Running between the wickets at the age of 41! 🐐🔥#ABDevilliers pic.twitter.com/cxIPPkADOe

— KG Sports (@TheKGSports) July 22, 2025

THE SHOW OF AB DE VILLIERS. 🐐

Ab De Villiers smashed a magnificent fifty in just 28 balls against India in the World Championships of Legends - The GOAT. pic.twitter.com/FtTaeigzJZ

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) July 22, 2025

Multiple questions have arisen after the game between India and Pakistan was called off during the 2025 World Championship of Legends. The veterans’ cricket match that was to be played between the two arch rivals on July 20 in Birmingham has been cancelled after the Indian players refused to participate because of prevailing tensions and geopolitical situation.

There had been cross-border tensions between the two sides after the Pahalgam terror attack in India, which led to the suspensions of the IPL and the PSL later on. Brett Lee, the former Australian pacer and the current captain of the side in this tournament, has reflected on the situation of the competition.

See Also: Major updates from ICC Annual General Meeting on WTC venues and two new members

‘This is a tough question. I love India, I love Pakistan. So I hope that they can get to a point where they can, like, appreciate themselves. But most importantly, we are here for a tournament. So Australia versus India versus South Africa. We are all inclusive. So what happened last night is what happened. We pushed forward.’ Brett Lee expressed in the press conference.

Brett Lee reflects on WCL 2025 encounter between India and Pakistan

The WCL organizers addressed that they planned this match in the tournament, which involves teams like Australia, South Africa, England, and the West Indies. But after hearing the news that Pakistan’s hockey team will be touring India this year and after seeing a recent Volleyball game taking place between the U-16 sides of the two nations, they cancelled the clash as they didn’t want to cause discomfort to the Indian legends unintentionally.

#WATCH | Coventry, England: On the India vs Pakistan WCL match which got cancelled, former Australian Cricketer Brett Lee says, "... I love India, I love Pakistan. So I hope that they can get to a discretion where they can, like, appreciate themselves. But most importantly, we… pic.twitter.com/3V7Yx7nQb6

— ANI (@ANI) July 20, 2025

‘This is to formally reiterate that Mr. Shikhar Dhawan will not be participating in any matches against the Pakistan team in the upcoming WCL League. This discussion was communicated earlier during our discussion on call and WhatsApp dated 11th May 2025. Given our current geopolitical situation and prevailing tensions between India and Pakistan, Mr. Dhawan and his team have taken this position after due consideration. We respectfully request the league's understanding and cooperation on this matter.’ Shikhar Dhawan posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

All six sides will face each other once before the top four will proceed to the semifinals, scheduled for July 31, and the final on August 02. The tournament will take place in Birmingham, Northampton, Leicester, and Headingley.