India Champions Forfeit Semifinal vs Pakistan Over Terror Links
- India Champions withdrew from the WCL semifinal against Pakistan citing public sentiment and Pakistan’s alleged terror links.
- Organisers cancelled the match, allowing Pakistan Champions to advance to the final by default.
- The decision follows India’s earlier forfeiture of the group-stage match against Pakistan for the same reason.
In a dramatic turn of events at the World Championships of Legends (WCL), the much-anticipated semifinal between the India Champions and Pakistan Champions has been officially called off after Indian players refused to play against the neighbouring nation. The decision comes in the wake of growing public sentiment and backlash over Pakistan’s alleged support for terrorism, particularly following the recent Pahalgam terror attack.
The India Champions had earlier forfeited their group-stage clash against Pakistan citing similar reasons. Their decision was reaffirmed ahead of the semifinal, as senior players including Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan, and Yousuf Pathan informed the organisers of their collective stand on Wednesday.
The WCL organisers released a statement acknowledging the situation: “We respect the India Champions' decision to withdraw from the semifinals, 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 further added, “Though we believe in the power of sport to bring positive change, public sentiment must always be respected after all, everything we do is for our audience”.
The India Champions, led by Yuvraj Singh, had mounted an impressive comeback in the tournament. After a poor start with three defeats in their first four games, they stormed into the semifinals with a thumping win over the West Indies Champions. In that match, Stuart Binny stole the spotlight with a blistering 21-ball fifty, helping India chase down 145 in just 13.2 overs.
The cancellation of the semifinal has left cricket fans disappointed, with many expressing mixed emotions on social media. While some supported the players' stance, others lamented the lost opportunity for a high-voltage India-Pakistan clash.
The tournament will now proceed with Pakistan Champions heading straight to the final.
