Amidst the buzz surrounding the cancellation of the India vs. Pakistan match at the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, images have surfaced online purportedly showing Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn, co-owner of the WCL, meeting with former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi on the sidelines of the event. These images have sparked considerable debate and online chatter, prompting a fact-check to verify their authenticity and context.
The Truth Behind the Viral Images
It has been confirmed that the images circulating on social media are not recent. They are from the previous season of the World Championship of Legends in 2024, during which Ajay Devgn and Shahid Afridi interacted ahead of a match between India and Pakistan. The images resurfaced after the WCL 2025 match between the two nations was canceled due to concerns and objections raised by Indian players, given the heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.
WCL 2025: Controversy and Cancellation
The World Championship of Legends (WCL) is a T20 tournament featuring retired and non-contracted international cricketers. Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn and Harshit Tomar are the owners of the WCL. The second edition of the tournament has been marred by controversy following the cancellation of the India vs. Pakistan match scheduled for July 20 at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
The cancellation occurred after several Indian players, including Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, and Shikhar Dhawan, reportedly refused to participate in the match due to the existing tensions between the two countries. The decision followed the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor, which further strained relations between India and Pakistan.
Reactions and Fallout
The cancellation of the match has elicited mixed reactions from players, fans, and officials. Shahid Afridi expressed his disappointment, emphasizing that sports should be kept separate from politics. He criticized the Indian team's last-minute change of stance, noting that they had arrived and even practiced before pulling out. Afridi also alluded to a "rotten egg" spoiling the atmosphere, hinting at Shikhar Dhawan's public announcement of his unavailability for the match against Pakistan.
Conversely, the Pakistan Champions owner, Kamil Khan, stated that they deserved the two points for the match, as per the rules. He confirmed that the tournament would proceed as planned, with the remaining matches unaffected. The WCL organizers issued a statement expressing their apology for unintentionally causing discomfort to Indian fans and reiterated their intention to create happy memories through the match.
Ajay Devgn's Involvement and Public Sentiment
Ajay Devgn, as the co-owner of WCL, found himself in the midst of the controversy. The resurfacing of his old interaction with Shahid Afridi led to some social media users questioning his patriotism. Some users accused him of using nationalism as a PR stunt, while others criticized the double standards of those who had previously boycotted other actors for similar interactions.
Despite the controversy, the WCL 2025 continues with matches scheduled across various cities in the UK. The final is set to be played on August 2.
