Yuvraj Singh and Team Slammed for ‘Unnecessary Hype’ Over WCL Pullout: ‘Saath Mein Ghumoge Par…’
Sayuri YukiYuvraj Singh: The WCL called off the India-Pakistan match on Sunday and issued an apology for “unintentionally causing discomfort” to the Indian legends.
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Yuvraj Singh: Abdur Rauf Blasts India Champions Over Withdrawal From Pakistan Clash
Yuvraj Singh: Rauf Calls for Separation of Politics and Cricket Amid India-Pakistan Tensions
Yuvraj Singh: Abdur Rauf Blasts India Champions Over Withdrawal From Pakistan Clash
Former Pakistan fast bowler Abdur Rauf Khan, on Monday, slammed the India Champions team after several players pulled out of the match against Pakistan in the second season of the World Championship of Legends, prompting the organisers to cancel Sunday’s fixture in Birmingham. The match was meant to mark India’s title-defence campaign after they defeated Pakistan to win the inaugural season last year.
Reportedly, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, and Shikhar Dhawan withdrew from the Edgbaston clash following public outrage over their participation, just months after condemning the Pahalgam terror attack.
The WCL cancelled the much-anticipated match and issued an apology for “unintentionally causing discomfort” to Indian legends.
Rauf, however, lashed out at the veteran Indian players, accusing them of hypocrisy. “Public ke saamne yeh dikhate ho ki hum nahi khelenge, aur saath mein ghumoge and shopping karoge, yeh unfair hai [You show the public that you won’t play, but behind the scenes, you travel together and go shopping — that’s unfair]. They hang around together, eat together, party together — then when it comes to playing a match, why do they portray a different picture in front of the public?” Rauf questioned.
“It’s not just Pakistani players — even Indian players feel it. We’ve played together, shared dressing rooms, eaten together, gone shopping on tours, stayed in each other’s hotel rooms — we’re friends off the field. To then portray such a hard divide to the public — like ‘we won’t play them’ — that creates unnecessary hype.
“Behind the scenes, the reality is very different. The fans, who come with so much excitement and emotion, are left disappointed. It’s not a good look for cricket. We owe better to the game and its fans.”
Yuvraj Singh: Rauf Calls for Separation of Politics and Cricket Amid India-Pakistan Tensions
India-Pakistan cricket relations have taken a severe hit following the Pahalgam attack, leaving the upcoming Asia Cup tournament — scheduled to be held in India later this year — in uncertainty as the BCCI awaits government clearance. On the global stage, reports from May 2025 suggest that the ICC is likely to place India and Pakistan in separate groups starting from the 2026 T20 World Cup.
The veteran of three Tests, four ODIs, and one T20I urged India to keep politics away from sports.
“My consistent view has been to keep politics and cricket separate. A year or two of tension may halt cricket, but once relations normalise, matches resume anyway. So why stop in the first place? … Both governments should sit down and sign an agreement that cricket and sports will continue regardless of external conditions. Political tensions may come and go, but sports should not suffer,” he said.
“The issues between India and Pakistan have been long-standing. Sometimes they escalate, sometimes relations improve. When relations are good, cricket resumes. When tensions rise, everything is shut down. Unfortunately, the fans are the ones who suffer the most … I believe there should be a formal agreement that regardless of political tensions, ICC-sanctioned events or bilateral tournaments should continue uninterrupted,” Rauf concluded.
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