The World Championship of Legends (WCL) T20 Season 2 has commenced with a thrilling encounter between England Champions and Pakistan Champions at Edgbaston in Birmingham. The match, held on July 18, 2025, saw Pakistan Champions finish their innings at 160/8 after a shaky start.
Eoin Morgan, the England Champions' captain, won the toss and elected to field first. This decision proved fruitful as England dominated the early overs, leaving Pakistan reeling at 66/4 after 11 overs. Pakistan's openers, Kamran Akmal and Sharjeel Khan, were dismissed early, putting pressure on the middle order. Shoaib Malik, with all his experience, couldn't contribute much, falling for a low score.
Mohammad Hafeez, captaining Pakistan Champions, held the innings together with a crucial half-century. He looked solid, stringing together a few boundaries. However, his stay at the crease was cut short when he popped a delivery from Liam Plunkett back to the bowler for an easy return catch. Hafeez's wicket was a significant blow to Pakistan's chances of setting a formidable total.
Following Hafeez's dismissal, Pakistan Champions were seven down. However, a late surge from the tailenders propelled the score to 160/8. The last five overs yielded 58 runs, providing a much-needed boost to the total. This late flourish gave their bowlers something to defend. James Vince, who bowled the 20th over, conceded 22 runs, which could prove costly for England.
The conditions at Edgbaston offered a fair contest between bat and ball, with some assistance for the bowlers due to cloud cover and humidity. There was a strong chance of rain, which could potentially interrupt the match. Pace bowlers were expected to find some swing and bounce in the early overs, while spinners might come into play later on, especially if the surface became damp.
England Champions, playing on home soil, aimed to rebound from a disappointing Season 1 where they finished at the bottom of the table. Pakistan Champions, last year's runners-up, were eager to go one step further and claim the trophy this time around.
The match featured several exciting player matchups. Kevin Pietersen was expected to face a challenge from Mohammad Amir's pace and swing, while Ravi Bopara had to contend with Saeed Ajmal's variations of off-spin. Shahid Afridi's power hitting was set to clash with Graeme Swann's control and spin.
The opening ceremony of the WCL Season 2 included a performance by Pakistani musical artist Atif Aslam. The tournament features six teams: England, Pakistan, India, Australia, South Africa, and the West Indies. India Champions won the inaugural season in 2024, defeating Pakistan in the final.
