Shikhar Dhawan has resigned from India’s roster for the upcoming World Championship of Legends 2025 tournament match between India Champions and Pakistan Champions, which will be played on Sunday, July 20, at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
The former India opener was slated to make his debut in the event, which would mark the start of the Yuvraj Singh-led team’s title defence. Dhawan issued a message on social media announcing his decision to boycott all matches against Pakistan in protest of the Pahalgam terror tragedy, which occurred earlier this year in April.
“Jo kadam 11 May ko liya, uspe aaj bhi kaise hi khada hoon. My choice on May 11 is still valid today.
“My country means everything to me, and nothing comes before the nation,” Shikhar Dhawan added in his statement.
On May 11, the southpaw said that he will participate in the competition but will not play any matches against Pakistan. He restated his opinion in a message made in the early hours of Sunday.
“Dear team, I hope this email finds you well. This is to publicly restate and confirm that Mr. Shikhar Dhawan will not play any matches against the Pakistan side in the upcoming World Cricket League. “This decision was communicated earlier during our discussion on call and WhatsApp on May 11, 2025,” Dhawan’s official communication stated.
“In light of the current geopolitical environment and growing tensions between India and Pakistan, Mr. Dhawan and his team have made this decision after careful thought. We respectfully beg that the league understand and cooperate on this topic. If you require any additional information or clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us,” it ended.
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
The demented terror assault in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, claimed the lives of 26 innocent. The attack was initially claimed by The Resistance Front, which is thought to be associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba.
The India-Pakistan match in the World Cricket League 2025 was intended to be the two countries’ first cricket match since Operation Sindoor. Aside from Dhawan, sources indicate that Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Yusuf Pathan, and Irfan Pathan have also pulled out. The Indian players have received criticism on the internet for partaking in a tournament that includes Pakistan. However, it is unclear whether their stated decision to abandon the match was prompted by the response on social media.
As per latest reports, the match could be shelved altogether. Pakistan played in the curtain raiser, where they defeated England by five runs. Meanwhile, India are yet to begin their campaign in the six-team tournament.
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