The India Champions have given up their semifinal match against the Pakistan Champions in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 tournament. The Indian team said they will not play because of political and national conflicts and terrorist attacks.
Some Indian players like Yuvraj Singh and Shikhar Dhawan refused to take the field against Pakistan. India also gave up their earlier group-stage match against Pakistan in the tournament. If India doesn’t play against Pakistan in the semi-finals, Pakistan will automatically advance to the finals as they topped the group stage.
EaseMyTrip Stands With National Security
The main sponsor of the tournament, EaseMyTrip, also stopped supporting the India-Pakistan semifinal because they do not want to support normal relations with Pakistan due to terrorism issues.
EaseMyTrip stated, “We applaud Team India @India_Champions for their outstanding performance in the World Championship of Legends, you’ve made the nation proud. However, the upcoming semi-final against Pakistan is not just another game; Terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand. @EaseMyTrip, we stand with India. We cannot support any event that attempts to normalise relations with a country that promotes terrorism.”
The co-founder of EaseMyTrip, Nishant Pitti, said, “The people of India have spoken and we hear them. EaseMyTrip will not be associated with the India vs Pakistan match in WCL. Some things are bigger than sport. Nation first, business later, Always.”
This problem also started a discussion about whether India will play their next Asia Cup 2025 match against Pakistan on September 14. It is uncertain whether the game will happen because of the political problems.
Pakistan is at number 1 in the points table, and India is in 4th position. If India doesn’t play the semi-final, Pakistan will advance to the final without playing.
| Team | Points Table Position | Match | Won | Lost | NR | Pts | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan Champions (Q) | 1 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 2.452 |
| India Champions (Q) | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | -0.558 |
India vs Pakistan WCL Head-to-Head Record
Both teams have played 3 matches so far in WCL history. In their first-ever encounter, Pakistan won by 68 runs. They again met each other in the 2024 WCL final, where India defeated Pakistan by 5 wickets and won the inaugural season.
| Year | Match Stage | Win | Margin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Group Stage | Pakistan Champions | By 68 runs | Pakistan defended 243/4 runs as India scored 175/9 |
| 2024 | Final | India Champions | By 5 wickets | India chased Pakistan’s 156/6 at Edgbaston |
| 2025 | Group Stage | Match abandoned | – | India Champions withdrew due to political tensions |
India and Pakistan Road to the Semi-final in WCL 2025
Pakistan Champions campaign was a dream run; they finished the group stage at the top of the table. Pakistan won all matches and didn’t lose a single game. On the other hand, India lost 3 of their 5 matches and won only 1 match against the West Indies Champions. This win was their only one that led them to secure 4th position to qualify for the playoffs.
Pakistan’s Journey in WCL 2025
| Opponent | Match No. | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| England Champions | 1st Match | 18 Jul | Won by 5 runs |
| India Champions | 4th Match | 20 Jul | Match abandoned |
| South Africa Champions | 9th Match | 25 Jul | Won by 31 runs |
| West Indies Champions | 11th Match | 26 Jul | Won by 49 runs |
| Australia Champions | 14th Match | 29 Jul | Won by 10 wickets |
India’s Journey in WCL 2025
| Opponent | Match No. | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan Champions | 4th Match | 20 Jul | Match abandoned |
| South Africa Champions | 6th Match | 22 Jul | Loss by 88 runs (DLS method) |
| Australia Champions | 10th Match | 26 Jul | Loss by 4 wickets |
| England Champions | 13th Match | 27 Jul | Loss by 23 runs |
| West Indies Champions | 15th Match | 29 Jul | Won by 5 wickets |
Leave a Comment