
Dunk opens up about Pak-Ind setback
The high-profile encounter, which was scheduled to be the fourth match of the tournament, was set to take place on Sunday at Edgbaston.
However, it was unexpectedly called off, triggering widespread disappointment and reactions from fans and former cricketers alike.
Speaking at a media conference, the 38-year-old expressed his passion for the game and the hope that cricket continues to unite fans across borders.
"As a cricket lover myself, I love all forms of cricket — the more cricket, the better," Dunk said.
"Everyone has the right to pick and choose what they watch or support, and I respect everyone's point of view. I hope that, going forward, sports can be a uniting factor," he added.
The 38-year-old also highlighted the overall strength of the Pakistan Champions squad and singled out one player in particular who could be a real threat when they face Australia in the ongoing tournament.
"All of them. It's a legends tournament, and I don't think there's a single player across any team who isn't a champion in their own right," he said.
"I've always been really fortunate to spend time with Mohammad Hafeez during our time at Lahore Qalandars. We built a great relationship based on mutual respect - at least I hope it's mutual! He top-scored in the first game and is definitely someone we fear a bit," he added.
It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan Champions started their WCL 2025 campaign on a winning note, narrowly defeating England Champions by five runs in the opening fixture. Defending a total of 161, the Pakistani side held England to 155-3 in their 20 overs, thanks to a disciplined final over by Sohail Khan, who gave away just 10 runs when 16 were required for victory.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Express Tribune
12 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Dunk opens up about Pak-Ind setback
Former Australian wicketkeeper-batter Ben Dunk has shared his thoughts following the cancellation of the much-anticipated clash between arch-rivals India Champions and Pakistan Champions in the ongoing World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025. The high-profile encounter, which was scheduled to be the fourth match of the tournament, was set to take place on Sunday at Edgbaston. However, it was unexpectedly called off, triggering widespread disappointment and reactions from fans and former cricketers alike. Speaking at a media conference, the 38-year-old expressed his passion for the game and the hope that cricket continues to unite fans across borders. "As a cricket lover myself, I love all forms of cricket — the more cricket, the better," Dunk said. "Everyone has the right to pick and choose what they watch or support, and I respect everyone's point of view. I hope that, going forward, sports can be a uniting factor," he added. The 38-year-old also highlighted the overall strength of the Pakistan Champions squad and singled out one player in particular who could be a real threat when they face Australia in the ongoing tournament. "All of them. It's a legends tournament, and I don't think there's a single player across any team who isn't a champion in their own right," he said. "I've always been really fortunate to spend time with Mohammad Hafeez during our time at Lahore Qalandars. We built a great relationship based on mutual respect - at least I hope it's mutual! He top-scored in the first game and is definitely someone we fear a bit," he added. It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan Champions started their WCL 2025 campaign on a winning note, narrowly defeating England Champions by five runs in the opening fixture. Defending a total of 161, the Pakistani side held England to 155-3 in their 20 overs, thanks to a disciplined final over by Sohail Khan, who gave away just 10 runs when 16 were required for victory.


Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
Afridi slams India over cancelled WCL match
Former skipper Shahid Afridi is at the centre of the WCL controversy for being his outspoken self. PHOTO: WCL The high-voltage World Championship of Legends clash between Pakistan and India was cancelled under dramatic circumstances on Sunday, and former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has pointed fingers - albeit indirectly - at one individual whom he labelled a "rotten egg". "We came here to play cricket, not politics. But one rotten egg destroyed the match," Afridi told Telecom Asia Sport ( during a media interaction. "Players should act as ambassadors of their countries, not as embarrassments." Although Afridi refrained from naming the player, sources indicate he was referring to former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who, along with five other Indian players - Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Shikhar Dhawan, Irfan Pathan and Yusuf Pathan - reportedly refused to play due to Afridi's presence in the Pakistan team. The tension stems from the aftermath of the April 22 terror attacks in Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 people. India blamed Pakistan-based militants, prompting missile and drone strikes across the border. Pakistan responded with counterattacks. The escalation, which temporarily subsided through international intervention - notably by US President Donald Trump - appears to have spilled into the sporting arena. Afridi, who was active on social media during the hostilities, had been a vocal critic of India's actions. This reportedly irked several Indian players, especially Harbhajan, leading to their collective decision to pull out just before the match. "They were here and even trained a day earlier," Afridi revealed. "If they had any objection to me, they could have just said it - I wouldn't have even gone to the stadium. I had a shoulder injury and was not going to play anyway." Afridi further claimed that some Indian players were willing to honour the commitment but were overruled. "Just because of one player who refused to budge, the others backed out. I had already conveyed that I was not playing, so there was no reason for this last-minute drama." The abandoned match disappointed a crowd of over 17,000 fans in Birmingham, who were looking forward to a rare India-Pakistan encounter in the legends format. "This was meant to be a game for fun - a spectacle. But if you keep mixing politics with sport, cricket will always suffer," Afridi said. "In places like the UK, USA and Canada, Indians and Pakistanis live side by side and want these matches. It's time to stop using cricket as a political pawn." Afridi pointed out that the two nations recently competed in volleyball and hockey without incident. "There seems to be a problem only when it's cricket. Why? That's a question India must answer." Pakistan team owner Kamil Khan said discussions with tournament organisers are ongoing. "We want the two points since we didn't forfeit the match," he said. "If Pakistan and India meet in the semi-finals, the match will likely be avoided. But if it's the final - well, that's something we need to decide soon." Afridi ended with a call for renewed sporting diplomacy: "Sports has always helped build bridges. If both countries want to move forward, they must talk - not talking will only deepen the divide."


Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
Owen shines in debut T20I for Australia
Mitchell Owen marked his international debut with a half-century and a wicket to help Australia to a three-wicket win in the Twenty20 cricket series opener against West Indies. Owen shared an 80-run fifth-wicket stand off 40 deliveries with Cameron Green, who scored 51 off 26 balls, to put Australia on course to reach the victory target of 190 with seven balls to spare on Sunday. After being sent in to bat and making a flying start, West Indies was restricted to 189-8 after losing four wickets for five runs off the last nine balls. Australian fast bowler Ben Dwarshuis returned a career-best 4-36, taking three wickets in four deliveries - Jason Holder blocked a hat-trick ball but was out next delivery - in the next-to-last over of the West Indies innings. The top four West Indies batters all got starts, with Roston Chase plundering 60 from 32 deliveries before he was caught in the deep off Dwarshuis' bowling to end a 91-run second-wicket partnership with Shai Hope (55) in the 13th over. Anotehr win has given Australia, coming off a 3-0 test series sweep, an early lead in the five-game T20 series. Owen, a Tasmanian allrounder who opened the batting with success for the Hobart Hurricanes in the domestic T20 league last season, joined David Warner and Ricky Ponting as Australians who've scored a half-century on debut in the format. "Firstly happy we got the win - it was nice to contribute," he said. "Just nice to be mentioned with those class players." Magnificent Owen The 23-year-old allrounder's first scoring shot was a six straight down the ground against Andre Russell in a contest between a player on international debut against a veteran playing his next-to-last game. He also clouted the last ball of that over for six. Owen hit three sixes in one over from Akeal Hosein that went for 20 runs and included a dropped catch when the batter was on 26. He survived a very narrow miss on 42. Owen was at the non-striker's end and was out of his ground when Cameron Green hit a drive straight back down the pitch and it went through spinner Gudakesh Motie's hands and hit the stumps. After a long delay to check with ultra-edge technology, there was no evidence of any touch from Motie and umpires confirmed Owen was not out. Green raised his 50 off 25 balls later in the same over with a six and a boundary but was out next ball, caught in the deep off Motie. Owen scored 50 off 27 deliveries before he was caught out in the deep off Alzarri Joseph's bowling with Australia needing 15 runs from 21 deliveries and four wickets in hand for victory. Key wicket Shimron Hetmyer swiped Owen's first delivery in international cricket - in the 16th over of the match - over his left shoulder for six in extrordinary fashion. But the young Australian got his first wicket two balls later when Hope mis-timed a slower ball and was caught in the deep after hitting four boundaries and three sixes in a 39-ball innings. "Fantastic," Australia skipper Mitch Marsh said of Owen's debut. "Any time you get a young kid that comes in and performs like that in his first game for Australia, it's always really exciting. "I'm sure there'll be lots of people - I think it's mid-morning back home now - that would've watched that and will be really excited. So we're pumped for him."