Dhawan warns of legal action over unauthorised World T20 Continent Cup listing

Shikhar Dhawan has denied agreeing to feature in the inaugural World T20 Continent Cup after his name appeared in the Asia Warriors squad without his permission. The former India opener has warned of legal action, while organisers have since confirmed he will not participate.New Delhi,Oct 14, 2026 10:49 ISTFormer India opener Shikhar Dhawan has denied agreeing to play in the inaugural World T20 Continent Cup after finding his name listed among the participants without his authorisation. The left-handed batter has warned of legal action against the organisers, raising questions over how his name was included in the tournament announcement.Dhawan was announced as part of the Asia Warriors squad for the competition, which is scheduled to be held in Hong Kong in December. The team was also advertised to feature Pakistan's Iftikhar Ahmed and Sohail Tanvir.The former India opener took to social media to clarify his position, asking fans and media organisations not to rely on announcements about his participation that he had not approved. Dhawan's post on social media clarifying the instance. (Photo: X) “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 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 WITHDRAWALFollowing Dhawan's statement, the tournament organisers confirmed that he would not be part of the Asia Warriors squad. They attributed his absence to “scheduling conflicts and certain technical considerations”, but did not elaborate on the circumstances surrounding his initial inclusion or his denial of participation. The development has cast a shadow over the announcement of the tournament's squads, with Dhawan having been promoted as one of the headline names for the Asia Warriors. Former India spinner Rahul Sharma, West Indies batter Dwayne Smith, and Bangladesh veterans Rubel Hossain and Mahmudullah Riyadh remain listed among the participants.The inaugural edition is set to feature four teams, Asia Warriors, Europe Champions, Africa Lions and North America Eagles, comprising a total of 49 retired cricketers.- Ends