The postponement of the highly awaited India-Pakistan match in the World Championship of Legends 2025 (WCL) has been controversial, with a former Pakistani cricketer, Danish Kaneri, speaking out about it.
Kaneria, one of Pakistan’s all-time great spinners with 61 Test and 18 ODI appearances for the country, complained about the move and questioned what the future held for India vs Pakistan matches in major international tournaments such as the Asia Cup 2025 and ICC events.
Danish Kaneria Responds to India-Pakistan Match Abandonment
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In an interview with IANS recently, Danish Kaneria asserted that he was agitated over the cancellation of the IND vs PAK match in the World Championship of Legends 2025. Kaneria opined that the cancellation of the match between the India Champions and Pakistan Champions slated for July 20 could have serious repercussions for India-Pakistan matches going forward, including in the Asia Cup 2025.
Kaneria added, “The India-Pakistan match was a big match for the World Championship of Legends, but was boycotted by Indian players. This is a matter of concern regarding whether India will play Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 or ICC matches. The abandonment has enraged many fans, and it’s a loss for the tournament organizers.”
India-Pakistan Rivalry: A Colossal Blow to Tournament Organizers and Fans
Kaneria also noted this cancellation’s bigger impacts, noting that there is a huge appeal for fans when India and Pakistan get together. He noted their absence would be a huge presence at the Asia Cup 2025 and even other major tournaments, since they usually draw a huge global viewership.
The former Pakistan leg-spinner also mentioned that while there is political and historical rivalry between the two countries, Indian and Pakistani cricketers play together in international leagues, which showcases the common professional friendship despite the conflict. He said, “India-Pakistan matches bring on huge viewership, and this loss due to the match cancellation is a big loss.”
The Role of PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi in the Controversy
Kaneria went as far as judging the players’ decision; he also accused the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). He questioned Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB chairman and the chairman of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), who was said to have approved the date for the IND vs PAK game in the World Championship of Legends 2025.
As per Kaneria, Naqvi should have received approval from the concerned authorities before fixing the match date, and he believes that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) should have been clearer on the issue. He added, “Naqvi would have gotten the green signal to fix the date for this match, but the BCCI should have been clear on it. There should not be double standards for such things.”
Kaneria Defends Players’ Patriotism in Boycotting the Match
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While referring to the causes of the boycott made by the players with regard to the IND vs PAK match, Kaneria justified their action as a question of national honor. He stated, “The decision taken by the players was for their country. If you talk about patriotism, you need to constantly stick to it.
The players were being faithful to their respective countries, and that has to be respected.”
He went on to clarify that the controversy over the cancellation was not merely cricket-related; it was a demonstration of the greater political context between the two nations. Kaneria did, however, admit that India-Pakistan games are of immense worth and their disallowance would be contrary to the development of the sport as well as its audiences.
The Effect on Asia Cup 2025 and Subsequent India-Pakistan Contests
The cancellation of the India-Pakistan match has raised a lot of questions regarding their future matches, especially big tournaments like the Asia Cup 2025 and ICC matches.
The India-Pakistan cricket rivalry is one of the most well-known in the gam,e and India-Pakistan contests will always garner a lot of interest from fans all over the world.
Kaneria’s comments suggest that a cancellation might mean India boycotting Pakistan in future events, further raising the stakes politically and depriving fans of one of the most highly anticipated clashes in sport.
Considering this historic context, and the additional passionate emotion in prior Indo-Pak cricket matches, these games are more than games; it is an encapsulation of the rivalry and the emotion that comes with it between countries.
The Future of India-Pakistan Matches in Major Tournaments
The cancellation of the IND vs PAK match at the World Championship of Legends 2025 has blown up, with Danish Kaneria expressing his disgust at what it means for future India-Pakistan matches in competitions such as the Asia Cup 2025 and ICC tournaments. How cricket’s administrators and the two boards react to the increased tension and need for these matches is to be seen moving forward.
For supporters, India-Pakistan matches would be a huge loss and a disappointment for the development and thrill of international cricket. The contest between these two cricketing giants has always been a huge selling point, and there is hope that both teams will see to it that these matches are continued in the interest of the game and the international fan base.
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