India Champions refuse to play Pakistan in WCL 2025 Semi-Final amid political tensions

In a major development at the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, sources confirm that the India Champions have opted to boycott their upcoming semi-final clash against Pakistan. The move mirrors their earlier decision to forgo the group-stage fixture against the same opposition.

Led by veterans such as Yuvraj Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, and Piyush Chawla, the India Champions secured a semi-final berth after demolishing West Indies Champions in just 13.2 overs in their final group match. However, political and public sentiment appears to have dictated their next step.

Backdrop of Asia Cup Controversy

This decision arrives amidst rising backlash surrounding the Asia Cup schedule, which has India set to face Pakistan on 14 September. The possibility of two more India-Pakistan fixtures later in the tournament has sparked considerable debate.

The WCL group-stage encounter between India and Pakistan had already been called off due to strong objections from Indian players and tournament sponsors. Former cricketers including Suresh Raina and Dhawan had publicly declared they would not participate in any match involving Pakistan.

Sponsor Pulls Out, Says ‘Nation First’

On Wednesday, WCL sponsor EaseMyTrip withdrew support from the semi-final, citing its long-held stance against normalising cricketing ties with Pakistan.

“We stand with India. Terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand,” said co-founder Nishant Pitti. “Some things are bigger than sport. Nation first, business later—always.”

A Turbulent Campaign

India Champions’ WCL journey has been nothing short of dramatic, starting with a heavy loss to South Africa, followed by defeats to Australia and England. Their only point prior to the West Indies win came from the abandoned match against Pakistan.

Now, their principled stand off the field might define their campaign more than anything on it.