The India vs Pakistan conflict within the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 bought abruptly cancelled on Saturday, triggering a wave of disappointment and controversy. As feelings ran excessive on social media, a sequence of images went viral displaying Bollywood actor and WCL co-owner Ajay Devgn in dialog with former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi. The timing of those pictures fueled hypothesis and outrage, with many accusing Devgn of fraternizing with Afridi shortly after the Pahalgam terror assault that claimed 26 Indian vacationer lives.
The viral images of Ajay Devgn interacting with Shahid Afridi: Context and followers outrage
The photographs—which surfaced within the hours after the match’s cancellation—present Devgn interacting with Afridi at Edgbaston Cricket Floor, Birmingham. Given Afridi’s previous remarks concerning the Indian Military and the present strained relations, the backlash was swift. Netizens condemned the assembly, questioning Devgn’s patriotism and motives. Criticism intensified as hashtags and memes focused the Bollywood star for allegedly “prioritizing PR over nationwide sentiment,” with calls to boycott his upcoming movie ‘Son of Sardar 2’ additionally trending on social media.
Look how shamelessly ajay Devgn hugging and assembly with the identical shahid afridi who referred to as Indian military as the phobia military
Shameless @ajaydevgn pic.twitter.com/KkUE6CD5ZV
— Manshi Singh (@RealManshi1) July 20, 2025
Co-owner of WCL Mr. Ajay Devgn is joking round with Shahid Afridi, the identical one that was blaming India after the Pahalgam assault and was talking nonsense about India whereas holding rallies after #OperationSindoor
Our Bollywood star @ajaydevgn is sustaining pleasant… pic.twitter.com/mj93g80jBO
— Devesh Pandey (@iamdevvofficial) July 20, 2025
What actually occurred between Ajay Devgn and Shahid Afridi?
Amid swirling rumours, a radical fact-check reveals an important reality: Ajay Devgn did certainly meet and chat with Shahid Afridi, however not throughout WCL 2025. The images in query are literally from the inaugural version of the World Championship of Legends, held at Edgbaston in 2024.
Devgn, as a co-owner of the event, was current for the ultimate match between India and Pakistan in July 2024.
India received that remaining, with each cricket legends and celebrities attending.
The photographs now circulating have been taken at this earlier version and don’t have any connection to the current political or social developments.
Additionally READ: “Why was the match scheduled?”: Fans react as India vs Pakistan WCL 2025 clash called off amid backlash
The present WCL scenario
The 2025 season was marred by tragedy and controversy even earlier than the viral pictures surfaced:
The scheduled India vs Pakistan match was cancelled following public outrage after a number of deaths within the Pahalgam terror assault.
Star Indian cricketers, together with Shikhar Dhawan, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh and Suresh Raina, withdrew in protest.
Organizers issued a public apology, emphasizing their intent to carry pleasure to cricket followers and expressing remorse for any damage sentiments.
Additionally READ: WCL 2025 presenters – Karishma Kotak, Shefali Bagga and Aditi Budhathoki add glamour to World Championship of Legends
