WCL 2025: Pakistan Unwilling To Share Points With India; What Happens To Points Table If Points Are Not Split?

WCL 2025: Controversy has erupted in the ongoing World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 after the high-voltage India vs Pakistan fixture at Edgbaston, Birmingham was called off.

While the tournament organisers clarified that the Indian team was not at fault, the Pakistan Champions camp is reportedly refusing to share points, insisting that India backed out of the encounter.

On Monday, WCL sources informed that the organisers had officially conveyed to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) that the cancellation was due to their inability to host the game. "WCL have conveyed to England and Wales Cricket Board that they, as organisers, were not able to conduct this match. The India Champions team are not at fault. Pakistan Champions team are not willing to share points because they are saying that it is India who backed out, not them," a source told ANI.

The match was expected to be one of the marquee contests of the tournament, but tensions between India and Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack made things complicated. Several Indian players, including Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina, confirmed they had pulled out of the match due to the current political climate. Other team members reportedly adopted the same stance.

In the 2024 edition, India Champions had defeated Pakistan Champions in the final, but this year's clash failed to materialise. Both teams are scheduled to play South Africa Champions next in their group fixtures.

As things stand, the points were initially shared between India and Pakistan, placing the latter on top with 3 points from 2 games. However, Pakistan's reluctance to share points could lead to a dispute affecting the table.

What Do the Rules Say?

According to general cricket regulations in ICC-sanctioned tournaments, if a team refuses to play or backs out without valid cause, the opposing team is usually awarded full points. However, in franchise or privately-run tournaments like the WCL, final decisions often rest with the organisers, who may choose to split points or declare a walkover depending on circumstances.

If points are not shared, Pakistan could jump to 4 points, possibly giving them a stronghold at the top. However, this would also mean India remains on 0 - which could prove crucial in qualification scenarios later.