India vs Pakistan row! Shahid Afridi-Ajay Devgn viral image from WCL sparks controversy: What really happened?
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The backlash followed the tragic
that claimed the lives of 26 Indian tourists, prompting fans to question the timing and ethics of former Indian cricketers participating in the match.
Amid mounting pressure, several ex-India players — including Shikhar Dhawan, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, and Suresh Raina — pulled out of the fixture.
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Dhawan revealed he had informed the organisers as early as May 11 about his decision to not play against Pakistan.
Adding fuel to the controversy were viral photos showing WCL co-owner and Bollywood actor
alongside former Pakistan captain
.
Though the images resurfaced recently, they were taken during the inaugural edition of the tournament last year, not in 2025.
Still, the backlash intensified due to Afridi's earlier derogatory remarks about the Indian Army.
On Sunday morning, the organisers officially confirmed the cancellation and issued a public apology: 'We sincerely apologise again for hurting the sentiments and hope people will understand that all we ever wanted was to bring a few happy moments to the fans.'
EXCLUSIVE: Nitish Kumar Reddy ruled out of England Test series
The 2025 WCL began on July 18 with a clash between England Champions and Pakistan Champions. India Champions will next face South Africa Champions on Tuesday, July 21.
Ajay Devgn had attended matches at Edgbaston during the inaugural edition in 2024, which concluded with India defeating Pakistan in the final.
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