India Champions have decided not to play in the semifinal of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 against Pakistan. According to sources, this move follows their earlier decision to skip the group stage match against Pakistan as well.
The India Champions team includes former stars like Yuvraj Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, and Piyush Chawla. The team reached the semifinals after a big win over West Indies Champions. They chased down the target in just 13.2 overs in their last group game on Tuesday.
IND vs PAK Political Tensions Impact Cricket
The decision to not play against Pakistan comes during a sensitive time in India-Pakistan relations. After the terror attack in Pahalgam earlier this year, ties between the two nations became tense again. There were even reports that the Asia Cup might get cancelled. However, the tournament is still on. India and Pakistan are scheduled to face each other on September 14 in the Asia Cup.
Earlier, the WCL group match between India and Pakistan was also cancelled. Indian players and one of the main sponsors strongly opposed the game. Former cricketers like Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan had publicly said they would not play against Pakistan.
Now, one of WCL’s main sponsors, EaseMyTrip, has also pulled out of the semifinal match. The company said it will not support any event that tries to “normalise relations” with Pakistan.
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“We applaud Team India for their great performance,” said Nishant Pitti, co-founder of EaseMyTrip. “But terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand. Some things are bigger than sport. Nation first, business later.”
India Champions had a tough start to the tournament. They lost to South Africa, Australia, and England in their first three games. Their only point before the West Indies match came from the abandoned clash with Pakistan.
The tournament organisers are yet to confirm what will happen next.
