‘Even if Pakistan reached the final…’: India Champions break silence on WCL semifinal boycott

India Champions withdrew from the WCL semifinal against Pakistan in protest of the Pahalgam attack, leading the organisers to cancel the match.

India Champions Pull Out of WCL 2025 Semi-Final vs Pakistan in Protest of Pahalgam Attack

Amid the high-stakes lead-up to the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 semi-final, the India Champions made headlines on Wednesday by officially withdrawing from their scheduled clash against Pakistan at Birmingham’s Edgbaston Cricket Ground. This move led the organisers to cancel the match altogether.

The decision, reportedly taken unanimously by the players, was a mark of protest against the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam and aligned with India’s long-standing policy of not engaging in bilateral sporting ties with Pakistan.

Although an official statement is still awaited, a source close to the team told The Times of India that the players prioritised national sentiment over cricketing duties.

“We are not playing against Pakistan (in semis). Our country and nation will always come first. India ke liye kuch bhi. We are proud to wear the Indian flag on our chest and will never let our nation down. Bharat Mata ki Jai,” said a player on condition of anonymity.

The insider also stressed that the stance would have remained unchanged had the two sides met in the final instead.

“Even if we had reached the final to face Pakistan, we all would have taken the same decision. We are united as Indians,” he added.

WCL Organisers Cancel Match as India Champions Withdraw, Pakistan Advances to Final

The WCL organisers respected the India Champions players’ decision to withdraw and consequently called off the semifinal match, allowing Pakistan to advance to the final.

This marked the second occasion the Indian team refused to play against Pakistan in the WCL, having previously pulled out of their July 20 league match at the same venue.

Tensions between the two neighboring countries escalated after the Pahalgam attack on April 22, followed by a military standoff. Since then, India and Pakistan have not met in international cricket. However, the men’s teams are scheduled to face each other on September 14 in the Asia Cup in the UAE, and the women’s teams will compete on October 6 in the ICC ODI World Cup in Colombo.

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