The highly anticipated India vs Pakistan semi-final at the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 will not take place, as the India Champions team has forfeited the match, sending Pakistan Champions directly into the final.
No Show: India Forfeits WCL Semi-Final
Cricket fans hoping to see another thrilling India-Pakistan clash at the World Championship of Legends will be disappointed. The India Champions team has chosen to forfeit their semi-final match against Pakistan Champions, which was scheduled for Thursday.
This decision means Pakistan Champions automatically advance to the final. They now await the winner of the second semi-final, which will feature South Africa Champions taking on Australia Champions.
A Pattern of Non-Play
This isn’t the first time India Champions have avoided playing Pakistan in this tournament. The group stage game between the two teams was also abandoned, with both sides sharing a point. That single point proved crucial for India, who had a challenging tournament, losing all their other games until a late victory against West Indies Champions secured their semi-final spot.
Players’ Unwillingness and Public Sentiment
Reports from PTI indicate that several prominent players from the India Champions squad expressed their reluctance to participate in the knockout game against Pakistan. Star cricketers like Shikhar Dhawan, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, and Suresh Raina were among those reportedly unwilling to play.
This decision appears to be influenced by strong public sentiment. The organizers, WCL, acknowledged this in their official statement regarding the forfeiture.
Organizers Respect Decision
The World Championship of Legends organizers released a statement, confirming the match cancellation and Pakistan’s progression. They emphasized their respect for India’s decision to withdraw, while also acknowledging Pakistan’s readiness to compete.
“At WCL, we have always believed in the power of sport to inspire and bring about positive change in the world. However, public sentiment must always be respected – after all, everything we do is for our audience,” the statement read. “We respect the India Champions’ decision to withdraw from the semi-finals, 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.”
Sponsor Pulls Out Over Stance
Adding another layer to the situation, EaseMyTrip, a major sponsor for the World Championship of Legends, had already announced its withdrawal of support for the India vs Pakistan fixture. Nishant Pitti, co-founder of EaseMyTrip, publicly stated their position on social media.
Pitti’s post on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) declared, “The upcoming semi-final against Pakistan is not just another game, Terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand. EaseMyTrip, we stand with India. We cannot support any event that attempts to normalise relations with a country that promotes terrorism. The people of India have spoken and we hear them. EaseMyTrip will not be associated with the India vs Pakistan match in WCL.”
- India Champions forfeited their WCL 2025 semi-final against Pakistan Champions.
- Pakistan Champions automatically advance to the tournament final.
- Key Indian players reportedly expressed unwillingness to play the match.
- A major sponsor, EaseMyTrip, pulled out its support for the game, citing a stance against terrorism.
- India Champions were the defending champions of the tournament.
With Pakistan securing their spot, all eyes now turn to the second semi-final to determine who they will face in the WCL 2025 final.
