&w=3840&q=100)
Shahid Afridi's participation irks Indian players, forces WCL to cancel India vs Pakistan match: Report
Shahid Afridi's participation in the India vs Pakistan match at WCL 2025 became a big issue as Indian players pulled out. Images: Reuters/Yuvraj Singh on X
The World Championship of Legends (WCL) organisers were forced to cancel the Sunday India vs Pakistan match after a host of former Indian cricket team players refused to take the field against their bitter rivals and neighbours in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. Leading the protest from the front was former India opener Shikhar Dhawan, who declared on social media that 'My country is everything for me,' while announcing his decision to withdraw from the match against Pakistan.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The WCL, which is reportedly co-owned by Bollywood stars Ajay Devgn and Harshit Tomar, has now apologised for 'hurting the sentiments' as they announced the cancellation of the India vs Pakistan match, which was to take place on 20 July at Edgbaston in England.
The WCL, in its official statement, said that they only wanted to 'create some happy memories for people' with the upcoming match and felt it was the right decision as the two countries had already resumed sporting ties through other events. They admitted 'unintentionally' causing 'discomfort to our Indian Cricket Legends' and 'affecting the brands who supported' them.
India and Pakistan teams have already competed against each other in tennis and volleyball matches internationally since the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor.
Afridi's participation forces WLC to cancel IND vs PAK match
However, it's important to note that the organisers had no wish to cancel the match until Indian players went against the idea. Dhawan was the most vocal as he took to social media to express his disapproval.
'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 still stand by the step I took on 11 May. My country is everything for me and nothing is bigger than the nation,' Dhawan wrote on X, along with a screenshot of a letter that announced that he will not take part in matches against Pakistan.
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.
Jai Hind! 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/gLCwEXcrnR — Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) July 19, 2025
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Similarly, India Today and TelecomAsia.net have reported that Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh were not willing to play against Pakistan. As per one of the reports, players were unhappy with Shahid Afridi being part of the Pakistan team.
Former all-rounder Afridi had been a vocal critic of India and after the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed, he had questioned the capabilities of the Indian government and the army.
'Even if a cracker bursts in India, they blame it on Pakistan. You have an 8 lakh-strong army in Kashmir, yet this happened. This means you are useless, not being able to provide security to people,' Afridi had said.
India Champions Squad: Yuvraj Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Piyush Chawla, Stuart Binny, Varun Aaron, Vinay Kumar, Abhimanyu Mithun, Siddarth Kaul, Gurkeerat Singh Maan.
Pakistan Champions Squad: Mohammad Hafeez (c), Kamran Akmal (wk), Shoaib Malik, Sharjeel Khan, Asif Ali, Umar Amin, Aamer Yamin, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Rumman Raees, Shahid Afridi, Imad Wasim, Fawad Alam, Sohaib Maqsood, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Abdul Razzaq, Saeed Ajmal.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
11 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Maharashtra awards Rs 3 crore to Divya Deshmukh for FIDE World Cup triumph; ‘happy to motivate students,' she says
Felicitating Divya Deshmukh, 19, for becoming the first Indian woman to win the FIDE Women's World Cup, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis awarded Rs 3 crore to her and said that while China used to dominate women's chess, India has managed to break its streak. With her victory, Deshmukh has also become India's 88th Grandmaster. Fadnavis was speaking at a felicitation ceremony organised at Kavivarya Suresh Bhatt Auditorium in Nagpur to celebrate Deshmukh's recent triumph. 'This is a moment of pride not just for Nagpur or Maharashtra, but for the entire nation,' he said. 'China has traditionally dominated women's chess, but two Indian women, including our very own Divya and Koneru Humpy, have broken through. As an Indian, as a Maharashtrian, and as a Nagpurkar, I am deeply proud of Divya's win.' Deshmukh, who hails from Nagpur and began her journey in chess with an Under-9 title, has steadily climbed the global ranks. Recalling her journey, she said, 'Moments like these are rare and precious. I am grateful to the Maharashtra government for all the love and support.' Sharing her happiness on being able to motivate students, Deshmukh said, 'When I was playing, I thought, 'What an incredible opportunity!' I couldn't have reached where I am without the help of the Maharashtra government. I am eternally grateful to Maharashtra for all the love I have received,' adding, 'Whatever I say about Nagpur is not enough; Nagpur is special for me.' Fadnavis praised Deshmukh's discipline and unwavering focus, especially in an age where distractions are abundant. 'At 19, when most people can't put their phones down, she stayed focused and showed the kind of professionalism the game demands,' he remarked. He also acknowledged the contributions of Divya's parents and coaches, calling them strong pillars behind her success. 'She never forgot her coaches, which speaks volumes of her character.' Fadnavis said the state government had earlier awarded Rs 1 crore to Deshmukh for her efforts. 'We are ready to do whatever is necessary to support her,' he remarked, and noted several reforms made in the state's sports policies, including cash prizes, improved training facilities, and permission for coaches to accompany players abroad. 'Athletes can't compete internationally without proper nutrition, training, and support. We have changed the rules to remove these barriers and support sportspersons from Maharashtra,' he emphasised.
India.com
14 minutes ago
- India.com
Mohammed Siraj's Net Worth 2025: From Humble Beginnings To Rs 57 Crore Success - Check BCCI Contract, IPL Earnings And More
photoDetails english 2940481 Updated:Aug 02, 2025, 05:09 PM IST Mohammed Siraj Net Worth 1 / 9 Mohammed Siraj, one of India's leading fast bowlers, has emerged as a consistent performer across formats. His success on the field has translated into impressive financial growth, making him one of the highest-earning Indian cricketers in 2025. Net Worth Overview 2 / 9 As of 2025, Mohammed Siraj's estimated net worth is Rs 57 crore ($7 million). His earnings have seen a sharp rise in recent years, fueled by IPL contracts, BCCI salaries, and lucrative endorsements. BCCI Central Contract & Match Fees 3 / 9 Siraj is a Grade A contracted player with the BCCI, earning Rs 5 crore annually. Match fees include Rs 15 lakh per Test, Rs 6 lakh per ODI, and Rs 3 lakh per T20I, contributing significantly to his income. IPL Earnings 4 / 9 In the IPL 2025 auction, Siraj was signed by the Gujarat Titans for a whopping Rs 12.25 crore. Over his IPL career, he has earned close to Rs 40 crore, making the league one of his biggest income sources. Endorsement Deals 5 / 9 Siraj's growing popularity has attracted brands like My11Circle, ThumsUp, CoinSwitchKuber, SG Cricket, Nippon Paint, MyFitness, and others. These endorsements add multiple crores annually to his net worth. Real Estate Investments 6 / 9 He owns a luxury residence worth Rs 13 crore in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, along with other property investments. His lifestyle reflects his financial success while maintaining strong ties to his roots. Car Collection 7 / 9 Siraj has a notable car collection that includes a Range Rover Vogue, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 5-Series, Toyota Corolla, and a Mahindra Thar gifted by Anand Mahindra. Siraj As Inspiration 8 / 9 From humble beginnings to becoming a key player for India, Mohammed Siraj's story is inspirational. His net worth of Rs 57 crore is the result of hard work, smart career decisions, and consistent performances across all cricket formats. 9 / 9
NDTV
14 minutes ago
- NDTV
Kingdom Box Office Collection Day 3: Vijay Deverakonda's Film Is "Blazing Fire"
New Delhi: Vijay Deverakonda's Kingdom opened its doors to the public on July 31. The film features Vijay Deverakonda in a never-seen-before avatar. As per Sacnilk, the Gowtam Tinnanuri directorial has minted Rs 2.62 crore on its first Saturday at the domestic box office across languages. With this, the total collection of Kingdom now stands at Rs 28.12 crore. The report added that the Kingdom 'had an overall 38.78% Telugu Occupancy on Saturday.' On its first day, the film minted Rs 18 crore across languages at the Indian box office. Kingdom has been produced by Sithara Entertainments, Srikara Studios, and Fortune Four Cinemas. Bhagyashri Borse, Satya Dev, and Ayyappa P Sharma are also part of the film. Sithara Entertainments shared a post of X to announce that Kingdom has minted Rs 53 crore worldwide in 2 days. Sharing a poster of Vijay Deverakonda's character from the film, the makers wrote, 'That's how KINGDOM gets hailed big with the audience's love. Box Office Blockbuster Kingdom hits 53Cr+ worldwide gross in 2 days.' In a follow-up post, the production house added that Kingdom is 'blazing fire at the box office on Saturday.' It added, 'The king continues to dominate. Kingdom storms ahead with monstrous bookings 7K+ tickets every hour on BookMyShow and fans turning theatres into a festival of celebrations.' Ahead of the film's release, Vijay Deverakonda at a press meet said that this was the first time he was feeling 'calm' ahead of a release. 'Usually before a film releases, things are a little chaotic. Everyone is a little nervous, and the phone doesn't stop ringing. However, this is the first time I am feeling calm and content before the release day. In the last 2-3 years, I have had many sleepless nights. But last night, I had a good night's sleep and came here to meet you all. If I am feeling this satisfied, it's all because of the love Telugu film-goers are showering upon us, which reflects in the advance collections for Kingdom,' he said.
