The World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 semifinal between India Champions and Pakistan Champions was known as off on Wednesday. Gamers representing the India Champions had refused to play towards Pakistan, upholding the nation’s stance towards bilateral sporting engagements with Pakistan within the aftermath of the tragic Pahalgam terror assault. The 2 groups have been scheduled to face one another on Thursday on the Edgbaston Cricket Floor in Birmingham.
In consequence, Pakistan have certified for the ultimate — their second consecutive look within the summit conflict of the WCL. Within the inaugural version final 12 months, they’d completed as runners-up after shedding to India within the remaining.
In a press release launched by the WCL, the organisers confirmed respect in direction of India’s resolution to withdraw from the semi-final and acknowledged Pakistan’s willingness to play, confirming that the match had been known as off and Pakistan Champions would progress to the ultimate.
The assertion learn: “At WCL, we have now all the time believed within the energy of sport to encourage and produce about optimistic change on the planet. Nevertheless, public sentiment should all the time be revered – in any case, every thing we do is for our viewers. We respect the India Champions’ resolution to withdraw from the semi-finals, and we equally respect the Pakistan Champions’ readiness to compete. Taking all elements into consideration, the match between the India Champions and the Pakistan Champions has been known as off. In consequence, Pakistan Champions will advance to the ultimate.”
Earlier within the night, PTI reported that Shikhar Dhawan, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, amongst others, had expressed their unwillingness to play the knockout recreation towards Pakistan.
The Indian staff took an identical stance earlier within the match after they refused to play towards Pakistan within the league stage. The match organisers later known as off the sport and apologised to the Indian unit for “unintentionally inflicting discomfort” to the gamers.
India have been scheduled to face Pakistan within the semi-final of the match on Thursday at Edgbaston Cricket Floor. The Mohammad Hafeez-led facet certified for the knockouts after ending high of the desk with 4 wins in 5 video games within the league stage. India, however, completed fourth within the group stage and solely sealed a semi-final berth after a dominant win over the West Indies Champions, chasing down the goal in simply 13.2 overs on Tuesday. Previous to that, they’d misplaced all their group-stage matches.
Indian sponsor pulled out of IND vs PAK WCL conflict
Earlier, EaseMyTrip, one of many league’s high sponsors, introduced that the corporate wouldn’t be related to the semifinal between India and Pakistan. The choice, shared on social media, was made within the nationwide curiosity, with firm co-founder Nishant Pitti stating that “terror and cricket can’t go hand in hand.”
“We applaud Workforce India @India_Champions for his or her excellent efficiency within the World Championship of Legends, you have made the nation proud. Nevertheless, the upcoming semi-final towards Pakistan is not only one other recreation, Terror and cricket can’t go hand in hand,” Pitti wrote on his ‘X’ deal with.
“@EaseMyTrip, we stand with India. We can’t help any occasion that makes an attempt to normalise relations with a rustic that promotes terrorism. The folks of India have spoken and we hear them. EaseMyTrip won’t be related to the India vs Pakistan match in WCL.”
