Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan has threatened legal action against the organisers of the World T20 Continent Cup after discovering that his name had been included in the list of participants without his knowledge or permission.
Dhawan clarified that he had neither authorised the use of his name nor agreed to participate in the tournament. He also urged media organisations and fans not to rely on or report any unauthorised announcements regarding his involvement.
“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,” Dhawan wrote in a post on X.
“I request the media and my fans to not report or rely on any unauthorised announcements. Thank you for your continued love and support.”
Organisers Confirm Dhawan’s Absence
Following Dhawan’s statement, the tournament organisers confirmed that the former India opener would not be part of the Asia Warriors squad.
They attributed his absence to “scheduling conflicts and certain technical considerations” but did not provide further details about his initial inclusion or his denial of participation.
The development has cast a shadow over the tournament’s squad announcement, as Dhawan had been promoted as one of the headline names for the Asia Warriors.
Four Teams to Feature in Inaugural Edition
Despite the development, several other former international cricketers remain listed among the participants. They include former India spinner Rahul Sharma, West Indies batter Dwayne Smith, and Bangladesh veterans Rubel Hossain and Mahmudullah Riyadh.
The inaugural edition of the World T20 Continent Cup is scheduled to feature four teams: Asia Warriors, Europe Champions, Africa Lions and North America Eagles. The tournament will bring together a total of 49 retired cricketers.