India Champions’ Refusal To Play Pakistan Prompts WCL 2025 Semifinal Cancellation

The World Championships of Legends (WCL) organisers have officially cancelled the semifinal fixture between India Champions and Pakistan Champions after the Indian team declined to participate in the match.

The Indian side, which had earlier opted out of their league-stage encounter against Pakistan, once again refused to compete, citing the neighbouring country’s alleged links to terrorism and involvement in the recent Pahalgam attack.

The team communicated their decision to the tournament officials on Wednesday, citing public sentiment and national pressure.

Having secured a place in the knockout stage with a decisive victory over the West Indies Champions in their previous match, the India Champions were likely to face their long-time rivals in a high-stakes contest.

In an official statement, the organisers stated, “We respect the India Champions’ decision to withdraw from the semifinals, and we equally respect the Pakistan Champions’ readiness to compete. Taking all factors into consideration, the match between the India Champions and the Pakistan Champions has been called off.”

“As a result, Pakistan Champions will advance to the final,” the statement added.

While reiterating their belief in the unifying power of sport, the WCL management acknowledged the importance of respecting the views of the public.

The statement noted, “Though they have always believed in the power of sport to bring about positive change in the world, they now recognise the need to respect public sentiment above all. After all, everything we do is for our audience.

Big Names Stand Firm in Boycott

The Indian squad includes prominent former internationals such as Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan, and Yousuf Pathan, all of whom reportedly stood firm in their refusal to play the match scheduled for Wednesday.

Earlier this month, several Indian players, including captain Dhawan, had expressed reluctance to face Pakistan in the group stage match set in Birmingham, leading to the cancellation of that encounter as well.

The tension has now extended into the tournament’s final stages.

On the field, the Yuvraj Singh-led side had recently staged an impressive comeback, recovering from three defeats in their first four games.

In their last outing, the team produced a commanding performance against the West Indies Champions, chasing down a target of 145 in just 13.2 overs, with Stuart Binny smashing a rapid 21-ball half-century.

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