‘Don’t drag politics into sport’: Ramdas Athawale slams India-Pakistan match cancellation; says match abroad shouldn’t be politicised

NEW DELHI: Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment, Ramdas Athawale, on Sunday questioned the decision to cancel the India vs Pakistan match in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) tournament. The match, scheduled in England, was called off after backlash over the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

“There is no need to drag politics into sports. If the match was in India, the concern would be more serious. But this one was in England. We have defeated Pakistan in war and on the cricket field as well. The Opposition should not politicise it,” Athawale told ANI.


He acknowledged the national anger after the terror attack in Pahalgam and the subsequent Operation Sindoor, but stressed that cricket and terrorism were two separate issues. "India vs Pakistan match was scheduled to be held in England. Terrorists indeed attacked Pahalgam, and after that terrorist camps were neutralised. But the matter of the match is different," he said.


Earlier, the WCL issued a statement confirming the cancellation of the match, apologising for hurting public and players’ sentiments. Organisers said the idea had come after a friendly volleyball match between India and Pakistan, aimed at giving fans a moment of joy. But given the reaction, they decided to cancel the fixture.

The move comes after several Indian cricket legends expressed their unwillingness to play. Players like Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan had already made their position clear.

This isn’t the first time Athawale has made headlines over cricket. Earlier, he stirred debate by demanding 25% reservation for Dalits and tribals in cricket and other sports, claiming these communities have long been sidelined in the sporting world.