Overview

• Shikhar Dhawan said the Pahalgam killings and subsequent Operation Sindoor left him too unsettled to face Pakistan in the July World Championship of Legends.
• He stated he informed tournament organisers two months before the event that he would not play against Pakistan.
• The India Champions forfeited both scheduled fixtures against Pakistan, including a semi-final, handing Pakistan a walkover into the final.
• Emphasizing the event’s private status, Dhawan said players should follow government direction for official competitions such as the Asia Cup.
• The episode also featured a social-media exchange between Dhawan and Shahid Afridi after the forfeits were recorded.