The semi-final match of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 between India and Pakistan was cancelled on Wednesday. This decision was taken by the Indian players, who refused to play against Pakistan in protest of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.
Sports News: Cricket matches between India and Pakistan are always full of excitement and emotion, but the semi-final of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 was cancelled without a single ball being bowled. This decision resulted in Pakistan getting a direct entry into the final, while the Indian team withdrew from the match. The organizers have officially confirmed this decision and respected India's decision.
Why was the India-Pakistan semi-final match cancelled?
This much-anticipated semi-final match was scheduled to be played on July 31 at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham, England. However, after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, the Indian players refused to play against Pakistan. Several key players from the Team India Legends – including Shikhar Dhawan, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, and Irfan Pathan – boycotted the match and refused to take the field.
Official Statement from WCL Organizers
In an official statement released by the World Championship of Legends (WCL), it was stated: "We have always believed in the power of sports that inspires the world and brings positive change. However, respecting the sentiments of the audience is paramount to us. We fully understand and respect the decision of the Indian players."
The statement also clarified that since the Indian Champions decided to withdraw from the semi-final, the Pakistani Champions have qualified for the final.
Pakistan Reaches Final for Second Consecutive Time
- The Pakistan Legends team has entered the final of WCL 2025 for the second consecutive time.
- In the first edition in 2024, the Pakistan team lost to India in the final.
- Now in 2025, they have got another chance to play in the final, but this time without a single ball being bowled.
- This incident is the first such situation in WCL history when a match between two major teams has been cancelled without being played.
The Indian players believed that when the country is going through mourning and a security crisis, playing against Pakistan is not right from a humanitarian and national perspective. This was the reason why all the players united and refused to take the field. According to a PTI report, there was an intense discussion on this issue in the Indian dressing room, after which a collective decision was taken to withdraw from the match.
