In a major development in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, the India Champions have officially withdrawn from their semi-final match against the Pakistan Champions. The high-voltage fixture was scheduled for Thursday at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham.
The decision, confirmed by WCL organisers and reported by ESPNcricinfo, came amidst ongoing political tensions between the two countries following the Pahalgam terror attack in April. Citing the Indian government’s stance on not holding bilateral sports events with Pakistan, several players from the Indian squad refused to take the field.
As a result, Pakistan Champions automatically advance to the final, where they will face the winner of the Australia vs South Africa semi-final.
Afridi lashes out at India’s refusal
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, who is part of the Pakistan Champions squad, voiced strong criticism following India’s withdrawal. Speaking to local media in Birmingham, Afridi said:
“Pata nahi India kis muh se khelega, magar khelega humare sath hi”
(Don’t know with what face India will play, but they’ll end up playing us anyway)
The comment, captured in a video shared by Niche Lifestyle, went viral on social media and drew sharp reactions from cricket fans across South Asia.
Afridi’s remarks referred not only to the semi-final withdrawal but also to India’s earlier refusal to play Pakistan during the group stage. That match was cancelled, and both teams were awarded shared points.
Sponsor EaseMyTrip distances itself
India-based travel company EaseMyTrip, one of the title sponsors of WCL 2025, publicly distanced itself from the India-Pakistan semi-final. On Wednesday, co-founder Nishant Pitti posted on X (formerly Twitter):
“Terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand… We cannot support any event that attempts to normalise relations with a country that promotes terrorism.”
The company’s move further intensified the political undertone of the tournament, leading to mixed reactions online.
Group stage performance and progression
- Pakistan Champions remained unbeaten in the group stage, finishing at the top of the table with 9 points.
- India Champions, led by Yuvraj Singh, struggled initially, losing their first three matches.
- They narrowly made the semi-finals after beating West Indies Champions in just 13.2 overs in their final game.
- With India’s withdrawal, WCL organisers announced a 50% refund to all ticket holders for the cancelled semi-final.
Political backdrop behind the sporting fallout
Sporting relations between India and Pakistan remain frozen due to repeated military skirmishes and the April 2025 terror incident in Jammu & Kashmir’s Pahalgam. The Indian government has maintained its position against engaging Pakistan in bilateral cricket.
Veteran Indian batter Shikhar Dhawan echoed this sentiment during India’s group-stage match against England on July 27, saying:
“If I haven’t played earlier, then I still won’t play.”
Despite this, the two nations are set to clash at the Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE on September 14, and the women’s teams will meet in the ODI World Cup on October 6 in Colombo.
