Credit: X
The geopolitical tensions often get spilled onto the sporting arena. In their group stage of World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, India Champions refused to play against Pakistan Champions following their sour relations post Pahalgam terrorist attack in April 2025. After winning their last group stage bout against West Indies Champions, India Champions qualified for the semifinal stage of World Championship of Legends. With three points on the table, India Champions finished at the fourth position of the table. While Pakistan Champions finished at the first position with nine points, they didn’t lose any game that they played.
India Champions were poised to face Pakistan Champions in the first semifinal clash of the tournament. But this time also, they refused to contest the game and walked out of the tournament. However,this is not the first time that teams pulled out of a cricket match due to any rea In this listicle we will get to know about those matches in which teams pulled off their participation due to some reasons.
List of Instances when teams pulled out of international cricket matches:
India Champions Vs Pakistan Champions, WCL 2025
In the World Championship of Legends, a T20 league featuring retired international cricketers, India Champions, led by Yuvraj Singh and including players like Shikhar Dhawan and Harbhajan Singh, withdrew from their semi-final match against Pakistan Champions on July 31, 2025, at Edgbaston, Birmingham. The decision was rooted in the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people followed by India's response with Operation Sindoor. India Champions had also skipped a league-stage match against Pakistan on July 20, citing ongoing geopolitical tensions and India’s policy against bilateral sporting engagements with Pakistan.Social media posts on X lauded India’s stance, while organizers reportedly apologised for scheduling the matchup, acknowledging the sensitivity of India-Pakistan relations.
Pakistan Vs Sri Lanka, Second Test, 2009
On March 3, 2009, the second Test match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore was abandoned after a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus. Gunmen fired bullets and launched a rocket and grenade at the bus, injuring several players, including Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, and killing six policemen and a driver. The Sri Lankan team was evacuated to an airbase and flown back to Colombo, effectively canceling the match and the tour. This attack led to a prolonged suspension of international cricket in Pakistan, with no major teams touring until Zimbabwe’s limited-overs series in 2015.
Australia Vs Bangladesh, 2015 Test series
In 2015, Australia canceled a planned Test series against Bangladesh after the Australian government issued a travel advisory following the reports of a murder of an Italian charity worker in Dhaka. Cricket Australia, prioritizing player safety, postponed the tour, which was to be Bangladesh’s first Test series against Australia in nine years. The decision drew criticism from some Bangladeshi officials, but it reflected the growing trend of cricket boards relying on government security assessments. The series was later rescheduled, but the cancellation underscored the challenges of touring in regions with perceived security risks.
England Vs Zimbabwe, 2003 World Cup
In the 2003 Cricket World Cup, hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya, England’s cricket team boycotted their group-stage match against Zimbabwe, scheduled for February 13, 2003, in Harare. The decision was driven by security concerns and moral objections to Robert Mugabe’s regime, which faced global criticism for human rights abuses and political oppression. England’s players, supported by the ECB, cited death threats and the volatile political climate. The ICC awarded Zimbabwe the match points, but the boycott contributed to England’s early exit from the tournament. Notably, Zimbabwean cricketers Andy Flower and Henry Olonga wore black armbands during the tournament to protest Mugabe’s policies, further highlighting the political backdrop.
Australia and West Indies Vs Sri Lanka, 1996 World Cup
During the 1996 Cricket World Cup, co-hosted by India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, both Australia and West Indies refused to play their group-stage matches in Sri Lanka due to security concerns following a January 1996 bomb blast by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Colombo, which killed over 90 people. Australia, fearing a suicide attack, and West Indies, citing similar risks, forfeited their matches, resulting in Sri Lanka being awarded two points for each game. This allowed Sri Lanka to advance to the quarterfinals without playing these matches. Ironically, Sri Lanka, led by Arjuna Ranatunga, went on to defeat Australia in the final to win their maiden World Cup.
New Zealand Vs Kenya, 2003 World Cup
During the 2003 World Cup, New Zealand also withdrew from their group-stage match against Kenya, scheduled for February 21, 2003, in Nairobi, due to security concerns. The New Zealand government issued travel advisories warning of potential terrorist threats in Kenya, prompting the team to prioritize player safety. The ICC awarded Kenya the match points, which helped Kenya reach the semi-finals, a historic achievement for the associate nation. New Zealand’s decision, though controversial, reflected the growing influence of security assessments on international cricket. The ICC’s refusal to relocate the match to a neutral venue, such as South Africa, drew criticism from New Zealand Cricket, highlighting tensions between tournament organizers and participating teams.
