WCL 2025: India Pull Out of Semifinal, Pakistan Legends Qualify for Final
This marks the second instance during the tournament where the Indian side has refused to play against Pakistan. Earlier, during the group stage, India had also opted out of their scheduled match against the archrivals in response to escalating tensions following a terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir’s Pahalgam region. The Indian players, led by Yuvraj Singh and including legends like Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina, and Irfan Pathan, made a collective decision not to face Pakistan in the semifinals either.
The World Championship of Legends, being held in England and sanctioned by the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB), features former international cricketers in a T20 format. Despite the match being a non-ICC-affiliated legends tournament, India’s withdrawal underscores how off-field geopolitical tensions can still overshadow on-field cricketing events—even involving retired players.
In the official communication, the Indian team stood firm on their earlier stance, stating that “it would not be appropriate to compete against Pakistan under the current circumstances.” The WCL organizers confirmed the cancellation and expressed disappointment while also respecting India’s sentiments. The governing body further announced that Pakistan would proceed directly to the final, set to take place on August 2, 2025.
Adding to the development, one of the tournament’s key sponsors, EaseMyTrip, also withdrew its sponsorship from the India-Pakistan clash. The company's co-founder, Nishant Pitti, tweeted, “Terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand. We stand by our nation.” This move further validated the Indian team's position and was widely applauded across social media platforms.
The Pakistan Champions, led by Shahid Afridi, have been one of the standout teams in the tournament so far, finishing at the top of the group stage with four wins from five matches. While their semifinal entry was uncontested, they will now await the winner of the second semifinal between South Africa Legends and Australia Legends, which remains scheduled as planned.
Cricket fans around the world expressed mixed emotions over the cancellation. While many supported the Indian team’s stance in light of national interest, others were left disappointed, hoping to witness one of cricket’s most iconic rivalries play out—even at the legends level.
With the final now looming, the focus shifts to who will meet Pakistan Legends in the ultimate showdown of WCL 2025. Regardless of the outcome, the absence of an India-Pakistan clash has once again highlighted how the game continues to be deeply intertwined with the broader political context.