India, July 20 -- The highly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan in the second season of the World Championship of Legends was called off on Sunday after several Indian players withdrew from participation. The match was scheduled to mark the beginning of India's title defence, following their triumph over Pakistan in the inaugural final in Birmingham last year.

Captain Yuvraj Singh, along with Harbhajan Singh, Irfan and Yusuf Pathan, Suresh Raina, and Shikhar Dhawan, were among the first to opt out amid mounting public backlash. The controversy stemmed from the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which was followed by a military response from India under Operation Sindoor.

While official confirmation was not issued for most wit...