India Champions have officially withdrawn from their World Championship of Legends semi-final match against Pakistan, causing Pakistan to advance automatically to the final. This move follows India’s earlier boycott of their group-stage match following the Pahalgam terror attack, reaffirming a consistent political stance over cricket.
Several Indian players, including veterans like Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, and Yuvraj Singh, reportedly voiced strong unwillingness to take the field against Pakistan. Their refusal mirrors sentiments from earlier matches in the tournament where Indian legends pulled out on similar grounds.
Additionally, EaseMyTrip, one of WCL’s main sponsors, formally withdrew support for the India vs Pakistan semi-final. Hyderabad-based founder Nishant Pitti emphasized that “terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand” and affirmed the company’s alignment with national sentiments.
With the semi-final now canceled, many are calling on the BCCI to take stronger stands in upcoming events like the Asia Cup and ICC tournaments. India had earlier skipped bilateral matches against Pakistan citing geopolitical tensions, and expectations are rising for a broader boycott at future global events.
