Shikhar Dhawan admits terror attack trauma kept him away from Pakistan Legends match

Former Team India opener Shikhar Dhawan recently spoke about his decision not to play against the Pakistan Legends team in the World Championship of Legends (WCL). Dhawan revealed that he had informed the organizers two months prior to the event that he would not participate in matches against Pakistan.

Dhawan retired from all forms of international and domestic cricket on August 24, 2024. The left-handed opener featured in 34 Tests, 167 ODIs, and 68 T20Is for India. He scored 10,867 international runs and also played more than 400 domestic matches for Delhi. The batter began his domestic career in 2004.

India Pulled Out of World Championship of Legends Clash Against Pakistan

India were set to face Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends a few months after the Pahalgam terror attack, where 26 Indian civilians were killed. The Indian government launched Operation Sindoor against terrorist infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK).

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Many people and social media users called for India to boycott Pakistan at every level, which led to the match being cancelled. Before an official statement, some Indian players like Harbhajan Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, and Irfan Pathan had already said they were not willing to play.

Notably, the India Champions team also pulled out of the semi-final against Pakistan, giving the Men in Green a walkover into the final, where they played against the South Africa Legends and lost.

I Had Already Told the Organisers Two Months Before - Shikhar Dhawan

Speaking on the podcast Figuring Out With Raj Shamani, Shikhar Dhawan said that the recent terror attacks, Operation Sindoor, and related events were still fresh in his mind. Dhawan added that he didn’t feel it was right to play against Pakistan, citing the pain caused by attacks on Indian civilians.

“I had already told the organisers two months before the event that I wouldn’t play against Pakistan. Because for me, I feel that whatever happened—the terror attacks, Operation Sindoor and the war—was still very raw and my soul wasn’t ready to play. So I didn’t play. And that time, I already told them that I didn’t want to play,” Shikhar Dhawan said.

"And even when I went there, I didn’t feel right to play against Pakistan at that moment. And that time, there was a little bit of internal sadness because of how things happened, the way our Indians, our Hindu brothers, were attacked—that was very wrong. So, that hurt remained. That’s why I respected that hurt and I went with that.”

“It’s very unfortunate that these things happen in this era. See, someone’s family, their whole family was destroyed. Poor people, they had just gone for a trip. The family was destroyed. It’s a very sad thing.”

We Should Play Pakistan in the Asia Cup If... - Shikhar Dhawan

The India Champions team had forfeited games at the World Championship of Legends, but the Men in Blue faced Pakistan three times in the Asia Cup and won all matches.

Dhawan stated that if the government asks them to play against Pakistan in tournaments like the Asia Cup, they should follow that directive.

“If the government says we should play Pakistan in the Asia Cup, then we should play,” Dhawan said.

He also recalled the heated exchange with former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi after the World Championship of Legends forfeits. Afridi commented on the Indian army, and Dhawan responded with references to the Kargil War on social media.

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