IND vs PAK, WCL 2025: Why is India vs Pakistan Semifinal Cancelled Today?

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India Champions were set to lock horns against Pakistan Champions in the semifinal of WCL 2025 on Thursday (July 31), but the match has been called off.

The Indian team finished 4th in the group stages while Pakistan finished at the top of the table. That set up a match between the two arch-rivals, but it won't be taking place.

WCL 2025: Why is India vs Pakistan Match Cancelled?

The much-anticipated semifinal clash between India Champions and Pakistan Champions in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 has been called off.

This unexpected development comes after the Indian players collectively decided to opt out of the match. The Indian legends team, featuring stalwarts like Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan, and Suresh Raina, chose to take this stand in response to the recent Pahalgam terror attack and the ongoing tensions between the two nations.

The Indian squad's decision reflects deep national sentiments and a strong stance against terrorism, emphasizing that some issues are above the spirit of sportsmanship. Sponsors such as EaseMyTrip echoed this sentiment by withdrawing their support for the fixture, stating that "terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand," and prioritizing the nation over business.

Given these developments and the sensitive political climate, the organizers of WCL have officially announced the cancellation of the semifinal match between India Champions and Pakistan Champions.

WCL 2025 Statement

WCL also released a statement confirming India Champions' decision to pull out of the race, thus confirming that Pakistan Champions have now progressed to the final.

"At WCL, we have always believed in the power of sport to inspire and bring about positive change in the world. However, public sentiment must always be respected - after all, everything we do is for our audience. We respect the India Champions' decision to withdraw from the semi-finals, and we equally respect the Pakistan Champions' readiness to compete. Taking all factors into consideration, the match between the India Champions and the Pakistan Champions has been called off. As a result, Pakistan Champions will advance to the final," the statement confirmed.

India's senior team meanwhile, are slated to play Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025, as the two rivals meet each other on September 14.