Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn is facing backlash after a recent controversy involving a cricket tournament he co-owns. Ajay is one of the main backers of the World Championship of Legends (WCL), a T20 cricket league featuring retired cricket stars from around the world. During a recent match at Edgbaston in Birmingham, a video went viral showing him meeting former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi. The friendly gesture, though casual, didn’t sit well with many fans in India.

Truth Behind Ajay Devgan viral picture

Yes, Ajay Devgn did meet and talk to Shahid Afridi, but not in 2025. The viral photos are actually from last year, during the first edition of the World Championship of Legends (WCL). At that time, Ajay had travelled to Edgbaston to watch the tournament.

That event ended with India beating Pakistan in the final match. Coming back to the 2025 WCL, a big controversy broke out over the India vs Pakistan match. Many Indian fans were upset about the match being played so soon after the Pahalgam terror attack, where 26 Indian tourists were killed.

Because of the public outrage, many former Indian cricketers, including Shikhar Dhawan, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, and Suresh Raina, decided not to play against Pakistan. Shikhar Dhawan even said he had informed the organisers back in May that he wouldn’t participate in the match.

On Sunday morning, the organisers officially cancelled the match and also apologised for hurting people’s feelings.They said in a statement: “We sincerely apologise for hurting anyone’s sentiments. Our only aim was to bring joy to the fans.”

The 2025 edition of the tournament began on July 18, with the opening match between England Champions and Pakistan Champions. The situation became even more sensitive because the India vs Pakistan legends match was scheduled to take place just days after a tragic terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 Indian tourists lost their lives. Following this, many Indian cricket fans expressed anger and disappointment on social media, questioning the timing of the match and the involvement of Indian players with a Pakistani team.

As outrage grew, the organisers cancelled the highly anticipated match on the same day it was supposed to happen, July 20. Several Indian cricketers, including Shikhar Dhawan and Harbhajan Singh, withdrew from the match, citing respect for national sentiments. Fans also turned their anger toward Ajay Devgn for attending the event and for his friendly interaction with Afridi during such a tense time.

The controversy further intensified when EaseMyTrip, one of the main sponsors of the WCL, announced that it was pulling out of the tournament, refusing to support any match that included Pakistan. This led to a big blow for the tournament’s image and its future matches.

The WCL organisers later issued a public apology and admitted that they had underestimated public emotions in India. They assured that they cancelled the India-Pakistan match out of respect for the sentiments of the Indian public and players.