India Champions Refuse to Play Pakistan, WCL 2025 Semifinal Called Off

Birmingham – The organisers of the World Championships of Legends (WCL) have officially cancelled the semifinal match between the India Champions and the Pakistan Champions after the Indian team refused to play against Pakistan.

The Indian players, who had earlier forfeited their league-stage clash with Pakistan in protest against the country’s alleged support for terrorism and its involvement in the Pahalgam terror attack, stood firm on their decision amid growing public pressure and sentiment. They informed the organisers on Wednesday that they would not take part in the semifinal.

India Champions had qualified for the semifinals after a convincing win over the West Indies Champions in their previous game.

“We respect the India Champions’ decision to withdraw from the semifinals, and we also acknowledge the Pakistan Champions’ willingness to compete,” the organisers said in an official statement. “Considering all circumstances, the match between the India Champions and the Pakistan Champions has been cancelled.”

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

While reiterating their belief in the unifying power of sport, the WCL organisers stated that public sentiment cannot be ignored. “Ultimately, everything we do is for the audience, and their feelings must always be respected,” the statement read.

Prominent Indian players such as Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan, and Yousuf Pathan all stood united in refusing to face the Pakistan Champions on Wednesday.

Earlier in the month, Dhawan and other Indian players had made their stance clear, leading to the cancellation of the group-stage match between the two sides. That tension has now carried into the knockout round.

Led by Yuvraj Singh, the India Champions had made a remarkable comeback in the tournament. After losing three of their first four matches, they bounced back dramatically on Tuesday by crushing the West Indies Champions. Chasing 145, they won the match in just 13.2 overs, thanks to a blistering 21-ball fifty from Stuart Binny.

With inputs from IANS