India refuses to play against Pakistan in semi-final of WCL amid Asia Cup row: Report

According to reports, players of the India Champions team have refused to participate in the semi-final match against Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025. The match was scheduled to take place on Thursday at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham. The decision was reportedly taken in view of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, with players maintaining India’s position of not engaging in bilateral sporting events with Pakistan.

The Indian team had earlier withdrawn from their league-stage fixture against Pakistan in the same tournament. Organisers later cancelled that match and issued an apology to the Indian players for causing discomfort. The current refusal to play in the semi-final marks the second such instance during WCL 2025 where the Indian side has opted out of a scheduled encounter with Pakistan.

Shikhar Dhawan, Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, and Suresh Raina are among the former international cricketers who, as per sources, have conveyed their unwillingness to participate in the knockout match. India secured the fourth position in the group stage after a convincing win over the West Indies Champions, where they chased down the target in 13.2 overs. Pakistan finished at the top of the points table with four wins in five matches.

The semi-final clash between India and Pakistan was set to be a high-profile encounter in the ongoing T20-format tournament featuring retired international players. The tournament is being held in England and features several teams including Australia, South Africa, West Indies, and England, apart from India and Pakistan.

One of the league’s main sponsors, EaseMyTrip, also announced its withdrawal from the India vs Pakistan semi-final. In a statement posted on social media, company co-founder Nishant Pitti said, “Terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand. We cannot support any event that attempts to normalise relations with a country that promotes terrorism.” He added, “We applaud Team India for their outstanding performance, but the upcoming semi-final is not just another game.”