Coventry [UK], July 21: Former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee has responded to the recent cancellation of the highly anticipated India-Pakistan match in the ongoing World Championships of Legends (WCL), calling it a “tough question” while emphasizing the spirit of inclusivity in the tournament.
The match, which was scheduled to be held at Edgbaston in Birmingham, was officially scrapped by the WCL organizers. Reports suggest that the decision stemmed from several former Indian players refusing to participate, following the tragic Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that claimed the lives of innocent tourists. The attack intensified tensions between India and Pakistan, leading to a refusal from the Indian contingent to face their arch-rivals on the field.
When asked about the cancellation, Lee, who is currently representing the Australia Champions team in the WCL, took a balanced position.
“That is a tough question,” Lee said during a press conference. “But the thing I’ll say right is, I love India, I love Pakistan. So I hope that they can get to a discretion where they can appreciate themselves. But most importantly, we are here on a tournament. So Australia versus India versus South Africa — we are all inclusive. So what happened last night is what happened. We pushed for it.”
The WCL had initially planned the India-Pakistan fixture as a goodwill gesture, inspired by a recent volleyball match between the two countries. Organizers hoped to recreate such positive moments for fans of both nations. However, the gesture was not received well in light of the prevailing geopolitical situation, prompting backlash and discomfort among Indian legends.
The league later issued an apology, acknowledging that the decision to schedule the match may have inadvertently hurt sentiments. In a show of transparency, former India opener Shikhar Dhawan also shared an email sent to the WCL organizers, stating that India’s decision to not play Pakistan had already been communicated on May 11.
“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,” Dhawan posted on X, reaffirming his commitment to the country. (Translation: “I stand by the decision I took on May 11. My country is everything to me, and nothing is above the nation.”)
India and Pakistan last faced off in the previous edition of the WCL, where the India Champions clinched a thrilling five-wicket victory in the final, chasing down 157 in style.
The current edition of the WCL continues with strong performances from other teams, but the absence of the marquee clash has left a void for fans of both nations.