No India Vs Pakistan Match! Reports Say India Legends Boycott Playing Against Pakistan In WCL Semi-Finals

The India Champions team has decided not to compete against Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends semi-finals in Birmingham. This decision aligns with India's stance on avoiding bilateral sports engagements with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack. The Indian players had previously refused to play against Pakistan during the league stage of the same tournament.

According to PTI, notable players like Shikhar Dhawan, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, and Suresh Raina have expressed their unwillingness to participate in the match against Pakistan. The organisers later cancelled the game and apologised for any discomfort caused to the Indian team.

India's Journey in WCL

India was set to face Pakistan at Edgbaston Cricket Ground on Thursday. The Pakistani team, led by Mohammad Hafeez, reached the knockouts after securing four wins out of five games in the league stage. India finished fourth but secured a semi-final spot after a dominant win over West Indies Champions, chasing their target in just 13.2 overs.

Before this victory, India had lost all their group-stage matches. Their performance against West Indies was crucial for advancing to the semi-finals. The team's refusal to play against Pakistan highlights their commitment to national interests over sporting engagements.

Sponsor's Stand on India-Pakistan Match

A major sponsor of the league, announced its decision not to associate with the India-Pakistan semi-final. This decision was shared on social media by co-founder Nishant Pitti, who stated that "terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand." He emphasised that supporting events that normalise relations with countries promoting terrorism is unacceptable.

Pitti wrote on his 'X' handle: "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."

"We stand with India. We cannot support any event that attempts to normalise relations with a country that promotes terrorism. The people of India have spoken and we hear them. EaseMyTrip will not be associated with the India vs Pakistan match in WCL," said EaseMyTrip.