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Hindustan Times
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Why was India vs Pakistan WCL match cancelled? An entire timeline of events
The World Championship of Legends on Sunday called off the match between India and Pakistan, scheduled for July 20 at Edgbaston, after several Indian legends opted out. The tournament began on June 18 at Edgbaston and is scheduled for an August 2 final. India vs Pakistan WCL match was called off after several legends pulled out The match between India and Pakistan in the second edition of the World Championship of Legends was called off on Sunday after several Indian players refused to play, reportedly citing the Pahalgam terror attack in April this year. Two-time World Cup winner Yuvraj Singh captains the Indian team, which also features Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa, and Varun Aaron, among others. The match against Pakistan was scheduled for Sunday in Birmingham and was India's first fixture this season. Pakistan, on the other hand, kicked off the season with a thrilling five-run win against England on Friday. Why was India vs Pakistan WCL match cancelled? An entire timeline of events Which Indian players withdrew? According to a report in Revsportz, Harbhajan Singh, Yusuf Pathan, and Irfan Pathan were among the first players to withdraw from the match amid public backlash over the fixture against Pakistan. The outrage was in the wake of the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, where 26 civilian lost their lives, and the ensuing Operation Sindoor carried out by the country. Another factor adding to the criticism on social media was that former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi, part of the current Pakistan Champions squad in this tournament, had made a controversial anti-India remark shortly after the attack attributed to the Resistance Front, an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba — which had already sparked widespread anger. Other players, Yuvraj, Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina were also criticised for participating in the match, which led them to withdraw. However, there was no official confirmation on it. The first official confirmation of a player withdrawal came in the early hours of Monday, when Dhawan shared a statement on X, making it clear that he has taken the call in view of the current "geopolitical" situation between India and Pakistan. "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. This decision was communicated earlier during our discussion on call and WhatsApp dated 11th May 2025," read his statement. How did WCL react? After as many as six players pulled out of Sunday's match, WCL called off the game. Despite the reaction on social media, WCL organisers explained that their intention while conducting the match was only to recreate some "happy memories." They further apologised for causing discomfort for the players. "After hearing the news that the Pakistan hockey team will be coming to India this year, and seeing the recent India vs Pakistan volleyball match along with a few other fixtures between the two nations in different sports, we thought of continuing with the India vs Pakistan match at WCL, just to create some happy memories for people around the globe. "But maybe in the process, we ended up hurting the feelings of many and stirring emotions," the WCL statement read. Official sponsor of the tournament, EaseMyTrip, also issued a statement clarifying that while they have signed a five-year sponsorship agreement with the WCL, it will not associated itself with any of Pakistan's matches. "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. 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. Let's bring the cup home. Bharat First. Always." EaseMyTrip informed in a post on X.
NDTV
17-07-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
"Would Drop Nitish Reddy And...": Ex-India Star Suggests Big Changes For 4th Test vs England
India faced a shocking 22-run defeat against England in the third Test at Lord's, London. With the win, England took 2-1 lead in the five-match series. India were chasing a target of 193 when they lost back-to-back wickets and the onus fell on the shoulders of Ravindra Jadeja. The all-rounder was joined by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj in the battle but India got bundled out for 170. As Shubman Gill and co gear up for the fourth Test, former batter Dilip Vengsarkar suggested two big changes in the team. Speaking to Revsportz, Vengsarkar stated that he would drop all-rounders Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar to bring in the likes of Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav. "I would drop Nitish Reddy and perhaps one more player to make room for Arshdeep. I think Siraj and Bumrah should keep their places, but Reddy could make way. Kuldeep Yadav could also replace someone like Washington Sundar. You need five bowlers in a Test match to win it. If your six batters can't put up a good total, the bowlers need to take responsibility. You can't win a Test match with part-time bowlers," Vengsarkar said in an interview with RevSportz. "I would pick Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav. Arshdeep is a good left-arm bowler who can move the ball in the air and off the wicket, which is crucial in English conditions. He can also reverse swing the ball, which is important. I have seen him bowl," he added. Pacer Arshdeep Singh is yet to make his debut for India in the longest format. As Jasprit Bumrah can miss the fourth Test due to his workload mangament, there are chances that Arshdeep can get his maiden Test cap. On the other hand, Kuldeep Yadav is also yet to feature in the Playing XI in the ongoing series. There were talks of getting included in the second Test but the team chose Washington Sundar instead of him. The fourth Test between India and England will kick-start from July 23 in Manchester.
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First Post
17-07-2025
- Sport
- First Post
Ex-India captain slams Bumrah for playing England Tests on 'personal preference': 'If you are unfit, don't play at all'
Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has played the Headingley and Lord's Tests in the ongoing tour of England and had been rested for the second Test at Edgbaston as part of his workload management policy. read more India pacer Jasprit Bumrah is second on the list of leading wicket-takers in the ongoing Test series in England with 12 wickets despite being rested for one match. Reuters Indian batting icon and former captain Dilip Vengsarkar has slammed star pacer Jasprit Bumrah for cherry-picking his appearances in the ongoing five-match Test series in England. Bumrah had played the series opener against Ben Stokes' men at Headingley as well as the third Test at Lord's, after being rested for the second Test at Edgbaston. Bumrah, who remains the No 1 bowler in the ICC Test rankings, had earlier stated that he wasn't going to play more than three matches out of five in the ongoing tour, the statement having been ratified by captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This after excess workload during the tour of Australia left him with a back injury in January and put him out of action for the next three months. Vengsarkar urges players to represent India in all matches if fit However, Vengsarkar, who had also served in the capacity of chief selector, felt that a player should play all matches for the country or not play at all regardless of his stature. 'What is important is playing for India, and if you are unfit, then don't play at all. He had a gap of almost seven-eight days after the first Test match but still was not included for the second Test, which was not acceptable. Maybe it was acceptable for Agarkar and Gambhir,' Vengsarkar told Revsportz. 'I'm not in favour of bowlers picking and choosing Test matches. If you're fit and available, you should play all the matches for your country. Bumrah is a world-class bowler, and he can win matches for India. But once you're on tour, you need to play every match. There's no question of selecting matches based on personal preference,' he added. India currently are trailing England 1-2 following defeats at Headingley and Lord's, both of which had Bumrah in the playing XI. Gill and Co had leveled the series in style with a thumping 336-run victory in the second Test just days before handing the series lead back to the Ben Stokes-led hosts at the 'Home of Cricket'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With the series currently on the line, Bumrah is expected to feature in back-to-back Tests for the first time in the ongoing tour by playing in the fourth Test that takes place in Manchester next week. It will then be a matter of conjecture whether Bumrah decides to play the fifth Test as well, thereby going against the three-out-of-five-Tests plan, if India level the series 2-2 at Old Trafford.
News18
08-07-2025
- Sport
- News18
‘Shubman's Dream Batting Best In Last 3 Decades': Sourav Ganguly Hails ‘Flawless' Gill
Last Updated: Captain Gill's outstanding knocks in England have been garnering praise from the legends of the game. The latest one to join the bandwagon is former India captain Sourav Ganguly. Just two Tests of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy are done, and three more to go, while Shubman Gill is already sitting on a pile of runs. The Indian Test captain has amassed close to 600 runs in four innings, averaging 146.25. After getting a century in Leeds, Gill hammered 269 in the first innings of the second Test and followed it up with a 161-ball 162 in the second. His heroics, along with Akash Deep's 10-wicket haul, helped India clinch a series-levelling 336-run win – their first-ever at Edgbaston 19 attempts. Captain Gill's outstanding knocks in England have been garnering praise from the legends of the game. The latest one to join the bandwagon is former India captain Sourav Ganguly. Speaking to Revsportz, Ganguly called it the best batting performance he has ever seen on English soil in the last three decades. 'Shubman is batting like a dream," said Ganguly. 'See my tweet and you will know. In my three decades of playing and watching cricket in the UK, this is one of the best exhibitions of batting that I have seen. He is simply flawless. There are no chinks in his armour and the English bowlers don't look like getting him out," he added. 'Gill isn't making a single mistake. He was always pleasing to the eye. And now he is showing the hunger and the temperament. If you see him now, you will be left wondering how can he have an average of less than 50 in Test cricket," Ganguly further stated. Gill is currently the top-scorer of the series with 585 runs in just two matches. He is just 18 runs short of becoming the most prolific Indian batter on an England tour in a single series, eyeing to shatter former captain Rahul Dravid's long-standing record of 602 runs – in the tour of 2002. Ganguly further highlighted that Gill did not stop at the century mark and kept at it, making it the most significant aspect of his batting. 'The best thing about Shubman in this series is the determination to go big. 'If you see, in every innings, he has gone big. A hundred isn't really enough. He wants to get the double hundred, and that's something fantastic to see," the former captain said. With the series now levelled 1-1, India and England will shift bases to London to play the third Test of the series at the home of cricket – Lord's. The match will begin on Thursday, July 10.
Hindustan Times
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
‘Shubman Gill's ‘dream' batting in England the best in last 3 decades': Sourav Ganguly dethrones Virat Kohli's 2018 epic
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly was left awestruck by Shubman Gill's "flawless" knocks in Edgbaston that set up a record win against England by 336 runs. Not only was it India's first-ever win at the venue in 19 attempts in history, but it was also their biggest win on overseas soil. Shubman Gill scored 430 runs in the Birmingham Test Speaking to Revsportz, Ganguly said it was the best batting performance he has ever seen on English soil in the last three decades as Gill notched up scores of 269 and 161 to become the first captain in Test history to score more than 400 runs in a single match. "Shubman is batting like a dream," said Ganguly. "See my tweet and you will know. In my three decades of playing and watching cricket in the UK, this is one of the best exhibitions of batting that I have seen. He is simply flawless. There are no chinks in his armour and the English bowlers don't look like getting him out. See the way he is batting and you will know what I am saying. Gill isn't making a single mistake. He was always pleasing to the eye. And now he is showing the hunger and the temperament. If you see him now, you will be left wondering how can he have an average of less than 50 in Test cricket." Ganguly dethroned Virat Kohli's 2018 epic with his words, a tour which was considered by many as one of the greatest performances by an Indian batter in England. The 36-year-old had buried the ghosts of 2014 past to notch up 593 runs, comprising two centuries and three fifties. Gill has already scored 585 runs in just two matches in the series and stands just 18 runs short of becoming the most prolific Indian batter on an England tour in a single series, with Rahul Dravid still leading the chart, having amassed 602 runs in the 2002 series. The former India opener said that the most significant aspect of Gill's knocks were that he did not stop at the century mark and kept at it, leading by example. "The best thing about Shubman in this series is the determination to go big," said Ganguly. "If you see, in every innings, he has gone big. A hundred isn't really enough. He wants to get the double-hundred and that's something fantastic to see." With the series now heading to the Lord's, where the match will begin on Thursday, July 10, and India would be aiming for a 2-1 lead, Ganguly had one final word for Gill. "This series could see the making of Shubman Gill as skipper," he added. Ganguly hails 'Shami-like' Akash Deep The veteran India batter was also effusive in his praise for Akash Deep, who finished with a 10-wicket match haul, comprising a six-fer in the second innings. Ganguly, who felt that Akash reminded him of Mohammed Shami, highlighted that the delivery to Joe Root on the fourth evening was the standout dismissal. "Very Shami, isn't he," said Ganguly, all praise. "He was just fantastic, Akash Deep. The way he used the crease, the way he ran in and the amount of swing he got was brilliant. He reminded me of Mohammed Shami at his very best. The delivery to Joe Root, for example, would have got any batter in the world out. "And now, he has the confidence. With Bumrah back at Lord's, India has the attack to take twenty wickets consistently. Use Bumrah as a wicket-taker, something I had said to you ahead of the series. You have enough in that bowling unit to make sure that he isn't overused. This series has been very nicely set up. In fact, India should have won in Leeds as well. After being 430-3, it should have been India's game."
