India Refuses to Play Against Pakistan in WCL 2025 Semi-Final

By Abhishek Kumar

The World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 saw a big moment of controversy when India Champions decided not to play their semi-final match against Pakistan Champions. The match was cancelled, and Pakistan directly reached the final.

This decision was not related to cricket alone. The Indian team withdrew from the tournament due to national sentiment after a recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. Many people in India were angry and upset after the attack, and the players felt it was not right to play against Pakistan at such a time.

Earlier in the tournament, India had also refused to play Pakistan in the group stage. Their stand remained the same even in the knockout round. As a result, India was eliminated from the tournament, while Pakistan moved ahead to the final.

The organizers of WCL expressed regret about the situation but said they understood India’s decision. They said it was difficult to ignore the public emotion and the political atmosphere. One of the sponsors, EaseMyTrip, also pulled out from supporting the match, saying “terror and cricket cannot go together.”

This is not the first time India has refused to play against Pakistan outside ICC events. Since 2013, there have been no bilateral series between the two countries due to political issues. However, both countries still play against each other in big tournaments like the Asia Cup and ICC World Cup.

India’s decision to withdraw from the WCL semi-final has received mixed reactions. Some people praised the team for taking a bold stand, while others felt disappointed that fans missed a high-profile match.

In the end, India stood strong with its belief that national pride and emotions come first, even above cricket.