Veteran Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan threatened legal action against the organisers of the upcoming World T20 Continent Cup, after they allegedly included his name in the list of participants without his consent.
Dhawan said that he had never given his permission for his name to be associated with the event, nor had he agreed to play in the tournament. He urged media organisations and his supporters to ignore any statements about his involvement that did not come directly from him.
Taking to the social media platform X, Dhawan said: "I have come across my name as a participant in the World T20 Continent Cup. My name has been used by the organisers without my knowledge or permission, and my team will be taking the appropriate legal steps to address this."
He added: "I request the media and my fans to not report or rely on any unauthorised announcements. Thank you for your continued love and support."
The tournament at the centre of the controversy, the World T20 Continent Cup (WT20CC), is set for its inaugural season. The event plans to feature 49 retired cricket stars divided into four continental teams: the Asia Warriors, Europe Champions, Africa Lions, and North America Eagles. The first season is scheduled to take place this December in Hong Kong.
Several Pakistani cricketers were included in the 24-member Asia Warriors squad, including Sohail Tanvir, Iftikhar Ahmed and Muhammad Imran Khan, among others. Dhawan had been vocal against Pakistan during the heightened tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack and during Operation Sindoor in 2025.
Following Dhawan's denial, the tournament organisers confirmed that he would not be part of the Asia Warriors squad, because of “scheduling conflicts and certain technical considerations”. But, there was no explanation on his initial inclusion or his statement.
The left-handed batsman, affectionately known as 'Gabbar', has had a stellar international career for India. He was particularly dominant in One-Day Internationals (ODIs), scoring 6,793 runs across 167 matches at an average of 44.1, which included 17 centuries and 39 half-centuries.
In Test cricket, Dhawan made 2,315 runs in 34 matches, averaging 40.6 and scoring seven centuries. His T20 International career was also notable, with 1,759 runs from 68 appearances, featuring 11 half-centuries.
