In a dramatic twist at the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, the Pakistan Champions have advanced to the final without playing the highly anticipated semi‑final against the India Champions. India’s withdrawal as per tournament regulations automatically propelled Pakistan into the championship match.

A Semi‑Final That Wasn’t: India Withdraws

What was slated as a blockbuster clash at Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham, on July 31, 2025, turned into an unexpected non‑event. The India Champions, led by veterans like Yuvraj Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina, and Irfan Pathan, formally declined to play the match—citing ongoing geopolitical tensions and calling for a boycott of fixtures involving Pakistan.

This decision mirrored their earlier group‑stage protest, marking the second instance India refused to play Pakistan in the same tournament.

Tournament Rules and Walkover Outcome

According to WCL regulations, if a team fails to take the field, the opponent wins by default. With India’s forfeit, Pakistan Champions secured their spot in the final—no ball bowled, no runs scored.

The tournament’s organizing body acknowledged both sides respectfully in an official statement:

“We respect the India Champions’ decision to withdraw … and we equally respect the Pakistan Champions’ readiness to compete … the semi-final has been called off. Pakistan advance to the final.”

Reactions: From Sponsors to Team Owners

EaseMyTrip, a sponsor associated with the Indian side, publicly disassociated from the match, declaring “terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand” and referencing public sentiment in India as motivation for withdrawing sponsorship.

On the Pakistani side, team owner Kamil Khan defended the outcome, emphasizing Pakistan’s unbeaten run throughout the tournament and stating that the team’s preparation and performance would have secured the final spot regardless:

“We fully deserve to be in the final … Given the standard of cricket we played earlier, the result would have been the same.”

The Broader Impact: Sports and Politics Collide

This incident underscores how geopolitical tensions have increasingly impacted international sporting events—even in veteran exhibition tournaments like the WCL. The withdrawal raises questions about the future of India‑Pakistan fixtures—even in neutral territories and non‑official formats.

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt voiced sharp criticism toward the Indian decision, provocatively suggesting that if India refuses to play Pakistan in these events, they should avoid them in major platforms like ICC tournaments and the Olympics as well.

What Lies Ahead: WCL Final in Sight

With the path cleared, Pakistan now shifts focus to the upcoming WCL final, where they await the winner of the other semi‑final—either Australia Champions or South Africa Champions. Pakistan previously finished as runners‑up in last year’s WCL and now have another opportunity to challenge for the title.

overview

The cancellation of the India vs. Pakistan WCL semi‑final highlights the persistent interplay between politics and sport. While Pakistan Champions advance by walkover, fans are left wondering what might have been had the clash taken place. As the tournament reaches its climax, Pakistan now looks forward to a potentially historic final.

Stay tuned as we follow Pakistan Champions into the WCL final and await reactions from cricketing authorities worldwide.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Why did India Champions withdraw from the WCL semi‑final?
Indian legends refused to play Pakistan due to current geopolitical tensions and public sentiment, reaffirming an earlier similar decision in the group stage.

2. Does Pakistan advance to the final automatically?
Yes. Tournament rules grant a walkover win to the other team if one side pulls out. Pakistan qualified for the final without playing.

3. What did the WCL organisers say?
They released a statement expressing respect for both teams' decisions, confirming the match cancellation, and stating Pakistan would move on to the final.

4. What was the sponsor reaction?
EaseMyTrip, sponsor of the Indian side, publicly withdrew sponsorship from the match, citing that “terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand”.

5. What did Pakistan Champions’ owner say?
Owner Kamil Khan praised his team’s unbeaten form and insisted they would have reached the final on merit regardless of the withdrawal.

6. Who will Pakistan face in the final?
Pakistan awaits the winner of the other semi‑final featuring Australia Champions or South Africa Champions