Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi has sharply criticized Indian players who withdrew from the recently cancelled India vs Pakistan Champions match, urging them to be “good ambassadors” for their country.
India-Pakistan Clash Called Off
Cricket fans were left disappointed after the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan Champions match, part of the second edition of the World Championship of Legends (WCL), was cancelled. The marquee fixture was set to take place at Edgbaston, Birmingham, but failed to go ahead as planned.
Organizers confirmed the cancellation after several key players from the India Champions squad opted to boycott their opening game. This decision quickly became a major talking point in the cricketing world.
Indian Stars Withdraw
The decision to pull out stemmed from geopolitical conflicts, specifically following the Pahalgam terror attacks in April. Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan was among the first to announce his non-participation via social media.
He was soon followed by other prominent Indian cricketers, including Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan, and Yusuf Pathan, all of whom decided not to feature in the match against Pakistan.
Afridi’s Blunt Message
Shahid Afridi, known for his outspoken nature, did not hold back his thoughts on the matter. He emphasized the importance of keeping politics separate from cricket, urging players to focus on their role as sporting representatives.
“We are here to play cricket and I’ve always said that cricket should be kept away from politics; it should move forward,” Afridi stated to the media. He added, “A player should be a good ambassador, not a source of embarrassment for their country.”
Afridi questioned the timing of the Indian players’ withdrawal. He pointed out that if there was an unwillingness to play against Pakistan, the decision should have been made before their arrival and practice sessions in Birmingham.
Cricket Over Everything
The former Pakistan all-rounder stressed the supremacy of the sport itself. He indicated that had he known about the eventual outcome, he would not have even gone to the venue.
“What is Shahid Afridi in front of cricket? Nothing,” he remarked, underscoring his belief that the game is bigger than any individual. “The game comes first. As a sport, cricket is the biggest thing.”
Afridi reiterated that if an Indian cricketer chooses not to play against Pakistan, they are free to sit out, but the integrity and continuity of the sport should remain paramount. He firmly believes that cricket transcends political differences.
WCL Tournament Continues
Despite the high-profile cancellation, the World Championship of Legends tournament is set to proceed as initially scheduled. Kamil Khan, owner of Pakistan Champions, confirmed that all remaining matches would take place without further changes.
Khan also mentioned a contingency plan for the semi-finals and final. If both India and Pakistan Champions make it to the semi-final stage, organizers will attempt to avoid a direct match-up between the two teams.
- Shahid Afridi criticized Indian players for boycotting the WCL match against Pakistan.
- Key Indian cricketers cited geopolitical conflicts for their withdrawal.
- Afridi urged players to be “good ambassadors” and keep politics out of sports.
- He emphasized that “cricket comes first” and is bigger than individuals or political issues.
- The WCL tournament will continue as planned, with potential semi-final adjustments for India-Pakistan fixtures.
The incident highlights the ongoing challenges of sporting encounters between India and Pakistan, often impacted by broader geopolitical tensions.
