As emotions run high and the situation evolves, it remains to be seen how the tournament organizers and cricketing bodies respond to the growing demands for moral accountability and national solidarity.

Amid growing public outrage and escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, two to three prominent Indian cricketers are reportedly set to pull out of the highly anticipated World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 clash against Pakistan. The match is scheduled to take place on July 20 at Edgbaston, Birmingham.

According to a report by Sports Tak, the players, whose names have not yet been officially disclosed, have expressed unwillingness to participate in the game following the sharp deterioration in diplomatic ties between the two nations. The withdrawal reflects the overwhelming public sentiment in India, which is firmly against sporting engagements with Pakistan in the wake of a recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir.

The brutal attack claimed the lives of several civilians and triggered widespread condemnation across the country. In response, the Indian government launched Operation Sindoor, a military offensive targeting terrorist camps across the border in Pakistan. This development has pushed the two nuclear-armed neighbors dangerously close to a major conflict, further fueling calls for a complete boycott of all sporting ties.

The Indian public has taken to social media to demand accountability and sensitivity from national sporting icons, particularly in the context of such emotionally charged times. Many believe that participating in a cricket match against Pakistan would be insensitive to the sacrifices of security personnel and the pain of the affected families.

The WCL 2025 features retired cricketing legends from various countries, but the India-Pakistan fixture, as always, has drawn immense attention. With top Indian players likely to withdraw, the future of the match now hangs in the balance, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may be forced to reconsider its position.

'Absolutely Shameless!': Sena UBT MP Priyanka Chaturvedi Blasts WCL 2025 India-Pakistan Game, Questions BCCI & ICC

Indian politician and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi has strongly criticized the participation of Indian cricketers in the upcoming World Championship of Legends 2025 (WCL), where India Champions are scheduled to face Pakistan Champions on July 20 in Birmingham. Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Chaturvedi voiced her outrage over what she termed a disregard for national sentiment amid ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan.

In a sharply worded tweet, Chaturvedi wrote, “Absolutely shameless! Hello GoI, what happened to no engagement with Pakistan? We don't have the Pahalgam terrorists yet but here we have an Indian side desperate to resume cricket matches with Pakistan. If nothing else at least think of those families who lost their loved ones in the terror attack. Hello @BCCI, @ICC – the blood money you’ll seek shows your moral bankruptcy.”

Her remarks came in the wake of a recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which left the nation mourning. Chaturvedi expressed deep disappointment over what she perceives as a contradiction between India's diplomatic stance and its cricketing engagements. By calling out both the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC), she accused cricket authorities of prioritizing profits over principles and ignoring the emotional and moral implications of playing against Pakistan in the current context.

The WCL 2025 is a tournament featuring retired legends from various countries, and the upcoming India vs Pakistan match at Edgbaston has generated considerable buzz among cricket fans. However, Chaturvedi’s criticism highlights a continuing national debate over whether sporting ties should be maintained with Pakistan amid ongoing geopolitical and security concerns.

As of now, neither the BCCI nor the participating Indian players have responded to Chaturvedi's comments. The match is still set to take place as scheduled on July 20, but the political firestorm stirred by her tweet has added an intense backdrop to the otherwise nostalgic sporting event.