Shikhar Dhawan reveals why he chose to boycott India and Pakistan at WCL 2025

Shikhar Dhawan’s decision to boycott India and Pakistan matches World Legends Championship (WCL) 2025 It was rooted in personal conviction and the feeling of national solidarity, instead of any coercion or external directive.

Shikhar Dhawan tells your boycott decision to matches against Pakistan

Following the tragic Pahalgam horror attack in April, emotions surpassed India, with widespread public outrage at the idea of participating in a cricket game, although among retired players, against Pakistan. Online receding was immediate and intense when group stage India vs Pakistan fixed It was scheduled for June 20. In the face of this feeling, Dhawan, along with several Indian legend colleagues such as Harbhajan Singh and Suresh Rain, announced his retirement from the party. The game was later canceled by WCL organizers, who apologized to Indian players for “Involuntarily causing discomfort.”

The controversy did not end there. Fate returned India against Pakistan in the semifinals, but the Indian staff, partly directed by Dhawan’s challenging position, refused to play again. As before, the party disabled and Pakistan advanced by default in the final. The events raised questions in the media and among fans: was the boycott a result of Cricket Control Directives in India (BCCI) or government authorities? The rumors also turned on the pressure of the sponsors and the administrators of Cricket.

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“My country means everything to me, and nothing is above the nation”: Dhawan

In a recent interview, Dhawan scored the record. Stated, “I was personally against playing the game against Pakistan and it was a conscious decision I made. Some of the others, including Bhajji Paa (Harbhajan Singh), also chose not to participate in that particular game.” Dhawan emphasized, “There was no pressure from anyone. Some of us simply did not feel comfortable playing against Pakistan and we saw no convincing reason to move forward and participate in the game.” Emphasized that for him the nation comes first: “My country means everything to me, and nothing is above the nation.” These observations make it clear that the boycott was derived from the collective consciousness of the players, many of whom had an emotional impact on Pahalgam’s attack and heard that playing could send a wrong message.

Dhawan’s position echoed other Indian senior players who decided collectively that, in the current circumstances, participating in a match against Pakistan did not align with his values or his public sentiment. This unified front of the Indian legends pushed the organizers to respect their decision, despite the disappointment between the fans and the reluctance of some quarters in the Cricket Community.

Dhawan’s clear and direct explanation has been widely supported by the Indian public, reinforcing the idea that in time of national pain, certain gestures, such as boycotting a cricket game against a rival nation, transcends the limits of sport.

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