
Harbhajan At A Pakistani Eatery In England Amid WCL Fiasco? Internet Blasts Spinner
Harbhajan Singh has faced criticism for visiting a Pakistani restaurant in Birmingham before the India vs Pakistan match in the World Championship of Legends was cancel;ed.
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh faced the ire of netizens after he was reportedly spotted at a Pakistani eatery in Birmingham, hours before the India vs Pakistan match in the World Championship of Legends was called off due to strained relations between the two countries.
World Cup winner Yuvraj Singh is the skipper of the India Champions, while the team features the likes of Dhawan, Harbhajan, Yusuf and Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa and Varun Aaron among others.
The WCL organisers shared a statement on their X account, detailing the decision to cancel and said that their intention while holding the game was to recreate some 'happy memories."
'Harbajhan Singh pulls out of the game against Pakistan tomorrow to show solidarity with India. But where was @harbhajan_singh's solidarity last night when he was eating at a Pakistani restaurant?" a user tweeted on Sunday.
Harbajhan Singh pulls out of the game against Pakistan tomorrow to show solidarity with India. But where was @harbhajan_singh solidarity last night when he was eating at a Pakistani restaurant?🥴🧐🤨 #DoubleStandards #INDvPAK #IndianCricket #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/dkn622rUf9 — Haroon (@hazharoon) July 19, 2025
'Boycotted to play against Pakistan, but had dinner at a Pakistani restaurant last night as per reports. @harbhajan_singh Explanation needed 🤣 #WCL2025 @SAfridiOfficial," another user tweeted.
The Pakistan side has in its ranks skipper Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz, Kamran Akmal, among a host of yesteryear cricketers.
The organisers apologised for 'unintentionally causing discomfort" to Indian legends as well.
But didn't boycott the free food at the Pakistani restaurant last night. https://t.co/v9f8QVYNyX pic.twitter.com/6MZmBvmeVD — Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) July 19, 2025
Former India opener Dhawan shared a statement on X as well, announcing his stand not to participate in the game against Pakistan.
view comments
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


Indian Express
26 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Why Sunil Gavaskar considers a 57-run knock against England in Manchester the ‘most satisfying innings' of his career
Even in 2025, Sunil Gavaskar continues to dominate the Test batting charts among Indian batters in England. The OG 'Little Master' was the first Indian batter to aggregate more than 1000 runs in England, until Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid came along. Gavaskar's epic fourth-innings 221 in 1979 at the Oval remained a record high score for 46 years until Shubman Gill recorded a career-best 269 earlier this month in Edgbaston. Gavaskar's legendary Test career can throw up a long playlist of epic innings, starting with his 774-run initiation in the West Indies in 1971, still the record for most runs by any batter in their debut Test series. Despite stacking up a record 34 Test centuries during his time, Gavaskar still favours a quiet yet gritty knock from his early days on the international stage as his most satisfying innings. Forged in the maidans of Bombay, even the great Gavaskar was alien to all batting conditions, especially the dreaded 'greentop' that was commonplace in England. Only months from his record-breaking debut in the Caribbean, where he smashed four centuries (including three in succession) in six innings, Gavaskar would arrive on his first England tour. The elegant right-hander would only tally 144 runs in six innings on his maiden UK trip, with a duck in his last innings at the Oval. And yet, Gavaskar would jot in a pivotal innings that he considers crucial to the development of a world-dominating batter in his time — a 57-run innings at Old Trafford, Manchester. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo in 2014, Gavaskar would reveal how he would come up against a series of challenges as he prepared to open the innings alongside Ashok Mankad in response to England's first-innings score of 386. WATCH: Highlights of England vs India, 2nd Test 1971 at Manchester Frosty weather, a treacherously green strip, so much so that Gavaskar could not make out the difference from the outfield, and a menacing English fast bowler, John Price, would offer Gavaskar an experience of a lifetime. 'We had never seen a greentop. It was bitterly cold. There was a slight drizzle where you do not go off the field, but it does freshen the pitch up. So the ball was moving and flying around.' As cricketing superstitions go, Gavaskar would never a sweater while batting and despite the chilly Manchester weather, he strode out to bat in his plain whites, something that he would later regret. 'I never used to wear a sweater normally. Never during the inter-school and even during the inter-varsity matches, some of which were played in the Delhi winters. So it was part superstition and partly the fact that I had never batted in a sweater.' Gavaskar would then contend with the challenge from English seamers and Peter Lever and the fiery Price, whom he regards among the quickest bowlers he had ever faced. 'Price had a longish, angular run-up which straightened in the last ten yards. He was 6'4″ and was quick. He banged the ball in, had a good outswinger,' Gavaskar told ESPNcricinfo. 'I reckon he was the fastest I played at the time. I was young and hence my reflexes would have been that much quicker. That was one of the fastest spells I faced before Thommo and Michael Holding.' Batting 163 minutes, Gavaskar fell caught behind off Price in a match that would eventually close out in a draw. While he negligble contribution to show in India's historic series-winning game at the Oval, Gavaskar would return three years later as a superior batter, and start with his maiden Test hundred against England back on the very same ground – Old Trafford, Manchester. 'The 57, absolutely without a doubt (most satisfying innings). The conditions, the first outing on a greentop, the circumstances – all of that actually made it a turning point in my career.'


Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
EaseMyTrip withdraws sponsorship of Cricket league over Pakistan participation, says: We support Team India, but ...; Shikhar Dhawan shares his email
Travel-tech Portal EaseMyTrip has withdrawn its sponsorship of the World Championship of Legends (WCL). In a statement, the company said that despite entering into a five-year sponsorship agreement with WCL two years ago, it will not associate with or participate in any match involving Pakistan. The India vs Pakistan match has been officially called off, following strong objections from Indian players and tournament sponsor, EaseMyTrip. India and Pakistan were scheduled to face off in Birmingham, UK, on Sunday July 20. What EaseMyTrip said on withdrawing from WCL Despite entering into a 5-year sponsorship agreement with the World Championship of Legends (WCL) two years ago, our stance has always been clear—EaseMyTrip will not be associated with or participate in any WCL match involving Pakistan by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo We proudly continue to support the India Champions and stand firmly by our team. However, as a matter of principle, we do not support or promote any match that includes Pakistan. This position was communicated unambiguously to the WCL team from the beginning. EaseMyTrip supports Team India, but will not engage in any match featuring Pakistan. WCL organisers issue public apology The tournament organisers issued a formal apology for "hurting sentiments" and "causing discomfort" to the Indian legends. In a statement, WCL organisers said the India-Pakistan fixture was scheduled in the spirit of fostering goodwill, taking inspiration from a recent friendly volleyball match between the two countries. 'The fixture was planned to create happy memories for fans,' the statement read. 'But we understand that it may have caused unease to the Indian legends and fans. We sincerely apologise for hurting sentiments and have decided to cancel the match.' Indian cricket players announce boycott Earlier, several Indian players like Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan also announced that they would not be playing the India-Pakistan game. Reports said that some other players in the India line-up have also taken a similar stance. In a post on social media platform Twitter, Dhawan shared an email he had sent to WCL organisers on May 11. '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 (I stand by the decision I made on May 11. My country is everything for me, and nothing is greater than the nation,' Dhawan wrote. India Legends are the defending champions of the WCL, having defeated Pakistan in last year's final. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now


News18
36 minutes ago
- News18
Average day for Bhatia and Rai at British Open
Agency: PTI Last Updated: Portrush (Northern Ireland), Jul 20 (PTI) Indian American golfer Akshay Bhatia shot a 1-under 70 in the third round to be Tied 34th at the British Open here. Bhatia had two birdies on the seventh and the ninth and seemed to be ready to get more before two bogeys on the back nine. Indo-British Aaron Rai, who had shown a lot of promise in the first eight holes on the first day, seemed to have lost that momentum. He shot even par 71 and was 18 places down on his second round to be T-44. Sahith Theegala had missed the cut. Meanwhile, Scottie Scheffler continued his dominant performance with a bogey-free 4-under 67 that included an eagle and two birdies as he moved to 14-under and four clear of the field. PTI COR APA APA 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.