'Where Were We Wrong?': WCL Owner Breaks Silence On India-Pakistan Match Cancellation
Harshit Tomar has defended the decision to initially proceed with the India-Pakistan match in the World Championship of Legends.
World Championship of Legends owner Harshit Tomar has questioned how he was wrong in going ahead with the league stage game between India and Pakistan, mentioning how India and Pakistan are going to play each other in the upcoming Women's World Cup as well as the Asia Cup.
Former India cricketers Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan and Yusuf Pathan pulled out of the contest a day before the game and the organisers had to call the match off.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board on Sunday, August 3, announced a blanket ban on its cricketers' participation in future editions of the WCL, accusing the tournament organisers of being 'biased" and lacking sporting integrity.
'We are going ahead with the tournament in England, which means that everything was taken care of 8-10 months in advance. Our schedule was revealed in December. The Champions Trophy was played in February," Tomar said while speaking on Shubhankar Mishra's YouTube channel.
'I cannot express my sadness at what happened in Pahalgam. We supported Operation Sindoor. The war happened and then it was stopped. Then, the sports between the two countries started to get normal," Tomar said.
The World Championship of Legends owner said that he will always abide by what the Indian government says.
'The Women's World Cup is soon going to happen. India will take on Pakistan there. Asia Cup chatter is also there. You tell me, where were we wrong in wanting to go ahead with the match? It was next to impossible for me to change things at the last minute," Tomar said.
'We had all the permissions from the ECB. Cricket is an emotion. As the match got close, people realised the reality of India playing against Pakistan. They started to express their emotions," Tomar added.
'I felt really bad. You raised questions about me; I get that. But you raised questions on Yuvraj Singh, who was battling cancer and still he played the World Cup. We are Indians, we are emotional," Tomar said.
Meanwhile, the decision by PCB follows a sequence of events in which India forfeited both their group-stage clash and semifinal against Pakistan, citing the nation's stand against bilaterial ties with Pakistan after the gruesome Pahalgam terror attack.
view comments
First Published:
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
2 hours ago
- First Post
Harry Brook's ferocious knock reminds Ravi Shastri of Rishabh Pant: 'Could see the momentum shift'
Ravi Shastri lauded the incredible knock played by Harry Brook on Day 4 of the 5th Test between India and England. Shastri drew parallels between Brook and Rishabh Pant. read more Ravi Shastri is known to be a big fan of Rishabh Pant's aggressive style of batting, and he indirectly reiterated it while praising Harry Brook's exploits against India on Day 4 of The Oval Test. Brook, who came to the middle when England were in a precarious state, launched a counterattack and forged a massive 195-run stand with Joe Root to weaken India's grip on the match. The right-hander went on to complete his century in just 91 deliveries. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With Brook steering the helm, England were cruising towards the target, and his brilliance was acknowledged by former India head coach Shastri. He lauded the English batter for taking the attack to the Indian bowlers and shifting the momentum in England's favour. Ravi Shastri lauds Harry Brook Speaking on Sky Sports Cricket during the lunch break, Shastri said, 'The first hour was watchful—really good bowling, plenty of chat out there in the face of the batsmen, the fielders as well as the bowlers—and India picked up a couple of wickets. Then came the counterattack in the next hour. So a seesaw battle—suddenly there was a shift in the balance." 'England started putting pressure on India, the fielders started disappearing into the outfield, catches were taken, going over the boundary line—everything started happening, which often happens when someone comes out there and bats like a Rishabh Pant. Harry Brook was doing a Rishabh Pant for England today, and you could see the momentum shift almost immediately," added Shastri. Harry Brook continued the onslaught on India after lunch and finally held out just before Tea at the score of 111. Akash Deep picked his wicket, bringing an end to his partnership with Root. Despite Brook's heroics, the match hangs in balance While Harry Brook and Joe Root had done almost enough to assure England's win in the 5th Test, the Indian bowlers staged a dramatic comeback in the final session of Day 4 to keep the visitors' hopes of ending the series level terms alive. The match has been pushed to Day 5, where England will enter to attain the remaining 35 runs, whereas India will fight to snare the three dismissals. A thrilling climax is set to unfold. Let's see who wins the battle of nerves.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
3 hours ago
- First Post
Root cites Pant's bravery when asked whether Chris Woakes will bat for ENG on Day 5 at The Oval: 'He is in pain but..'
Joe Root has provided a massive update on Chris Woakes ahead of the fifth and final day of the 5th Test. Woakes sustained a devastating blow to his shoulder on Day 1, which ruled him out for the remainder of the Test. read more Joe Root provides an update on Chris Woakes ahead of the fifth and final day of the Oval Test. Screengrab: Sonyliv/ANI After rain halted the play on Day 4 of the Oval Test, the action now moves to Day 5, where a thrilling conclusion is set to unfold. England will resume proceedings needing another 35 runs to win the match and clinch the series 3-1. India on the other hand, will aim to steal the victory by taking the remaining wickets. However, the question that has arisen ahead of the fifth and final day is: How many wickets does Team India need to take? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Given that , India need to take four more wickets. But then Chris Woakes is injured and did not bat in the first innings. Thus, that makes it three wickets. Not quite! The suspense thickens as Joe Root has provided a massive update on Woakes and addressed the query regarding whether the pacer will come out to bat or not, if needed. Notably, Woakes sustained a nasty blow to the shoulder on Day 1 of the 5th Test and was ruled out for the remainder of the game. Root, nevertheless, has come up with a contradictory statement. Citing the example of Rishabh Pant, who made a heroic return to the crease in the fourth Test in Manchester after suffering a toe fracture, Root stated that Woakes is ready and will hold the bat for England if the situation calls for it. "Chris Woakes in a huge amount of pain but we have seen this series - Pant batting with a broken foot, Woakes is ready to put body on the line for England". Root said after the end of the day's play. Considering the visuals that came out on Day 4 of Woakes, he does not look in the right state to bat for England. But the passion to win could wane the pain. Look who's in his whites in the dressing room 👀 — England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 3, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In another case, Root's statement could be a mind game as well. He might want to disseminate the message to the Indian bowlers that they will have to dig deep in order to take the win. With all to look forward to, the series is set to have a thrilling climax. It will be intriguing to see who comes out on top on Day 5.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
4 hours ago
- First Post
'Lazy decision to call it off: Broad strongly slams the decision to call stumps early on Day 4 at The Oval
Rain hampered play in the final hour of the Day 4 of the Oval Test, which was heading towards a thrilling conclusion. With rain falling stumps were called and thus the match has been pushed to Day 5. read more After a phenomenal sequence of play that reached the extent of thrill, it is the rain that had the last laugh on Day 4, and subsequently, the to the fifth and final day. The match was heading towards a dramatic conclusion as India had stormed its way back with two quick wickets of Jacob Bethell and Joe Root in the final session, whereas England needed 35 more runs to seal the series. It was anybody's game, but the rain gods decided to have a say in the game again. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD After considering all the factors, the umpires decided to call it a day, and stumps were declared on Day 4, almost 20 minutes prior to the official time. Broad Blasts Early Stumps Decision Former England pacer Stuart Broad slammed the call and tagged it as 'lazy decision'. According to Broad, given that the conclusion of the game was at a touching distance, the day could have been extended, and play could have resumed in another 20 minutes. Brook further stated that the spectators deserved a climax of the Test on Day 4 itself. 'Still 20 mins away from possible start time, everyone has their sunglasses on at the train station. Felt the supporters deserved to see a finish to that Test Match today. Felt a lazy decision to call it off at 6 pm in my opinion. I wonder who makes it?' Broad wrote on a social media platform X. Still 20 mins away from possible start time, everyone has their sunglasses on at the train station. Felt the supporters deserved to see a finish to that Test Match today. Felt a lazy decision to call it off at 6pm in my opinion. I wonder who makes it? — Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) August 3, 2025 Oval Test set up for a thrilling finish on Day 5 While the rain drama has dragged the Test match, considering the fact that the previous four Tests of the series also went down to the wire on Day 5, it was written in the stars that the fifth and final Test will also conclude on Day 5. India will have a reason to complain as the momentum had shifted rapidly in their favour in the final phase of Day 4. However, in order to save the series, the Indian bowlers will have to return with the same hunger and increased zeal to take the remaining three wickets. As for England, they will start the day needing another 35 runs. With three wickets in hand and only that many runs remaining, the action is certainly not going beyond the morning session, unless the weather spoils sport again. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
