Shahid Afridi Criticizes India for Last-Minute Withdrawal from WCL 2025 Clash

Shahid Afridi’s blistering remarks on India Legends

On July 20, in a press interview, Shahid Afridi lashed out at Indian players, expressing his disappointment over the cancellation of the high-octane match between India and Pakistan.  He also cited the importance of keeping sports separate from politics. 

Afridi cited, “We are here to play cricket, and I’ve always said that cricket should be kept away from politics -it should move forward.” 

He criticized the Indian team’s last-minute decision, noting that they had already arrived in Birmingham, participated in practice sessions, and then abruptly changed their stance. “If [India] didn’t want to play against Pakistan, they should’ve refused before coming here. But now you’ve arrived, even held practice sessions, and then suddenly changed everything in a single day,” he highlighted the unprofessional nature of the withdrawal.

Afridi even went further, suggesting that the decision was influenced by a single individual, whom he referred to as a “bad egg” without naming anyone directly. According to some media sources, he allegedly accused Shikhar Dhawan, who had publicly announced his withdrawal, of being the man influencing other Indian players. 

“Sports brings countries closer. If politics comes between everything, then how will you move forward? There is always one rotten egg, which spoils everything,” Afridi remarked, adding that players should act as ambassadors for their country, not sources of embarrassment. 

Pakistan’s veteran cricketer also addressed speculation that his presence was a key reason for the Indian players’ refusal to play.  “If I had known the match was being stopped because of me, I wouldn’t have even gone to the ground. But cricket should go on. What is Shahid Afridi in front of cricket? Nothing,” he said, underscoring his belief that the game should take precedence over individual or political disputes.

Why India Pulled Out at the Last Minute in WCL 2025

The root cause behind this last-minute withdrawal decision by Indian players is the ongoing geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan, exacerbated by the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, which claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists, in Jammu and Kashmir.

The attack, followed by India’s Operation Sindoor, intensified anti-Pakistan sentiment in India, with many fans and media outlets criticizing the idea of Indian players participating in a match against Pakistan. 

Social media backlash played a significant role, with users questioning the players’ “nationalism” and labeling their participation as hypocritical given the recent tensions. Reports suggest that the Indian players, particularly Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, and Shikhar Dhawan, were specifically opposed to playing against a Pakistan team that included Shahid Afridi. 

Afridi’s controversial remarks following the Pahalgam attack, where he allegedly blamed India for the attack and criticized the Indian Army’s response, fueled the players’ objections. He reportedly said, “Even if a cracker bursts in India, they blame it on Pakistan...” 

These statements, combined with Afridi’s history of anti-India comments, including a claim that “India is 10 years behind Pakistan” in June 2025, provoked significant outrage among Indian fans and players.  

Shikhar Dhawan first to announce withdrawal

Shikhar Dhawan was the first player to publicly announce his withdrawal, posting on X formerly known as Twitter.

 “My country is everything for me. This is to formally reiterate and confirm that Mr. Shikhar Dhawan will not be participating in any matches against the Pakistan team in the upcoming WCL League.”

Other players, including Harbhajan Singh and Yusuf Pathan, both Members of Parliament, reportedly boycotted the match, though they did not issue public statements.

At last, the organizers of the WCL 2024 released a statement for the official cancellation of the legit India vs Pakistan champions match and apologized for “unintentionally causing discomfort” to the Indian players and their supporters.

Despite the cancellation of the India-Pakistan match, the tournament would proceed as scheduled, with Pakistan awarded two points for the canceled game. To avoid such controversy the efforts would be made to avoid an India and Pakistan match in the semi-finals or final. 

The cancellation has sparked a broader debate about the role of politics in sports. While the tournament continues, the absence of this marquee clash, India vs Pakistan, has left fans disappointed and reignited discussions about the future of cricketing ties between the two nations.