Former India cricketer Shikhar Dhawan and a bunch of other players have been grilled on social media as they are all set to take on Pakistan in a classic clash in the World Championship of Legends on Sunday, July 20, in Birmingham, months after the Pahalgam attack, which soured relations between the two countries. This is the second season of the World Championship of Legends, but it is in the news for all the wrong reasons. Besides India and Pakistan, England, the West Indies, South Africa, and Australian players are also featuring in this league. After the Pahalgam attack, many former and current Pakistan players, including Shahid Afridi, were spewing venom against India on social media. Afridi in particular had begun holding victory parades and was even abusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reportedly. After this, Dhawan had protested and had replied to Afridi curtly on social media. “Kargil mein bhi haraya tha, already itna gire hue ho aur kitna giroge, bewajah comments pass karne se acha hai apne desh ki taraqqi mai dimag lagao @SAfridiOfficial,” Dhawan had tweeted in April. Kargil mein bhi haraya tha, already itna gire hue ho aur kitna giroge, bewajah comments pass karne se acha hai apne desh ki taraqqi mai dimag lagao @SAfridiOfficial. Humein hamari Indian Army par bohot garv hai. Bharat Mata Ki Jai! Jai Hind!https://t.co/5PVA34CNSe — Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) April 28, 2025 But only two months after Operation Sindoor, Dhawan is going to play a game on the same ground as Afridi. Not just Dhawan, but many famous former Indian cricketers, including Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina and Irfan Pathan, are part of this event and will play with Pakistan cricketers like Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik. “Indian ex-cricketers like Harbhajan, Yuvraj & Dhawan are happily playing WCL matches vs Pakistan in a private league! But when it’s public, they scream nationalism,” a user tweeted on Friday night. Indian ex cricketers like Harbhajan, Yuvraj & Dhawan are happily playing WCL matches vs Pakistan in a private league! But when it’s public, they scream nationalism. Why does the Govt stay silent? Is deshbhakti only for common people, not celebs? Hypocrisy much? https://t.co/aelQzXKJNC — Cricket for her (@coverdrivetoher) July 18, 2025 “Shikhar Dhawan and Afridi did all that fake acting of patriotism in the war just to play against each other again on Sunday. I am saying that again, patriotism is only for the general public,” another user tweeted. Shikhar Dhawan and Afridi did all that fake acting of patriotism in war just to play against each other again on Sunday. I am saying that again patriotism is only for normal public . India will also play with Pakistan in Asia cup too . #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/ZycCbezndG — kirat.13_ (@kirat8513) July 18, 2025 Ambati Rayudu, Yusuf Pathan, Robin Uthappa and Harbhajan Singh are also part of the Indian squad.