Former Australia wicket-keeper reacts to India-Pakistan WCL match cancellation

Former Australian wicket-keeper Ben Dunk has expressed his disappointment after the high-voltage clash between India and Pakistan Champions was called off in the ongoing World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025.

The much-anticipated Pakistan-India fixture, scheduled for Sunday at Edgbaston, was set to be one of the marquee contests of the WCL 2025.

However, the match between the arch-rivals was unexpectedly cancelled, leaving fans and cricketing circles disheartened.

Speaking at a media interaction following the cancellation, Dunk emphasised the power of cricket to bring people together.

“As a cricket lover myself, I love all forms of cricket, the more cricket, the better,” he said.

“Everyone has the right to pick and choose what they watch or support, and I respect everyone’s point of view. I hope that, going forward, sports can be a uniting factor.”

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The cancellation sparked a wave of reactions online and offline, with many former cricketers also weighing in.

Among them was Brett Lee, who had earlier urged for unity and sportsmanship to rise above politics during the tournament.

“I love India, I love Pakistan. So I hope they can reach a resolution where they appreciate each other,” Lee stated.

“But most importantly, we are here for a tournament. What happened last night is unfortunate, but we move forward.”

The World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 is currently taking place in England, featuring retired international stars from around the world.

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Pakistan Champions unveil pace attack for WCL 2025

Pakistan Champions have announced the experienced pace attack for the World Championship of Legends (WCL), scheduled to take place from July 18 to August 2, 2025.

The league will be held in England, with the franchise announcing the inclusion of experienced pacers Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanvir, Rumman Raees, and Sohail Khan.

The franchise announced the arrival of the Pacers via social media handles.

“Raw pace, Relentless aggression, left-arm angle, right-arm fire they’re coming in hot. This trio isn’t here to bowl… they’re here to dominate,” the post read.

The quartet has extensive experience, having played 1,004 T20 matches overall and taken a total of 1,115 wickets.

Apart from pacers, explosive left-handed batter Sharjeel Khan is also retained for the second edition of WCL.

Sharjeel Khan was pivotal in Pakistan Champions’ success in the last edition. He was the second-highest run-getter in the tournament, amassing 221 runs in seven matches at a healthy average of 31.57 with an impressive strike rate of 193.85.

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“You blink, and you miss a SIX,” the franchise captioned the post. “Sharjeel Khan is back to set the tone from ball one in #WCLSeason2. How many sixes do you see him hitting in Season 2?” Pakistan Champions announced the southpaw’s arrival in a social media post.

For the unversed, the WCL 2025 will be contested across four English venues: Edgbaston (Birmingham), County Ground (Northampton), Grace Road (Leicester), and Headingley (Leeds).

Six teams, India, Pakistan, Australia, England, South Africa, and the West Indies, will face off in a round-robin format, with the top four teams qualifying for the semi-finals.

The upcoming edition marks the second installment of the WCL, following the inaugural tournament held in 2024, where the Indian team, led by the legendary Yuvraj Singh, emerged as champions.

During the inaugural season, Younis Khan-led Pakistan were among the standout teams, producing dominant performances throughout the group stage.

Despite a spirited effort, Pakistan Champions fell just short in the final against arch-rivals India. After setting a target of 157, they couldn’t prevent India from chasing it down with five wickets and five balls to spare.

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