India Champions Withdraw from WCL Semi-Final Against Pakistan Champions

India Champions Withdraw from WCL Semi-Final Against Pakistan Champions

In a major development at the World Championship of Legends (WCL), the India Champions have pulled out of their semi-final fixture against Pakistan Champions, citing ongoing political tensions between the two countries. The match was scheduled to be held in Birmingham on Thursday.

As a result of the withdrawal, Pakistan Champions have been granted a direct entry into the final, where they will face the winner of the other semi-final between Australia Champions and South Africa Champions.

The India Champions, featuring prominent former international players such as Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla, Yusuf Pathan, and Robin Uthappa, had also declined to play against Pakistan Champions in a group-stage match on July 20. On that occasion, points were shared.

Pakistan Champions topped the group stage with nine points, while India Champions placed fourth with just three. With India’s withdrawal from the knockout stage, Pakistan advanced by virtue of their superior standing in the group.

Tensions between the two nations escalated following a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, in April this year, which led to subsequent military skirmishes. These incidents have further strained bilateral relations, including in the sporting arena.

While this Legends tournament is independent of official cricket boards, the decision mirrors broader diplomatic stances. The senior men’s and women’s national teams have yet to resume bilateral contests, although scheduled encounters remain on the international calendar. The men’s teams are due to meet in the Asia Cup on September 14 in the UAE, while the women’s teams are set to face off during the ODI World Cup in Colombo on October 6.

Among the participating legends, former captains and rivals Shoaib Malik and Shikhar Dhawan—both playing in the WCL—had famously shared a light-hearted moment during the 2019 World Cup match in Manchester, highlighting the sporting camaraderie that contrasts with political realities.

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