India Champions and Pakistan Champions were going to play against each other on July 20 in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025. However, that match didn’t go ahead.
On the eve of the game, several Indian cricketers, including Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, and Irfan Pathan, withdrew. The decision was made after pressure mounted on them following serious online scrutiny.
India vs Pakistan WCL semifinal to be cancelled
Last night, India beat the West Indies Champions and qualified for the WCL semifinal. Who is their opponent? Well, it’s Pakistan. The game is set to be played on July 31 at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground.
But, the India vs Pakistan match won’t happen. Most of the Indian cricketers had expected to withdraw, just like the last time. One of the main sponsors of the WCL, EaseMyTrip, has already dissociated itself from the semifinal. Something they had done for the group stage match itself. And now, the official update has come.
What will happen if India withdraws?
After India refused to play Pakistan, one point each was given to both teams as the game was considered abandoned. However, that can’t happen this time. Since India has withdrawn, Pakistan has qualified for the WCL 2025 Final. Having topped the points table with zero losses in 5 matches, Pakistan will move ahead based on their past performance.
Implications on the Asia Cup
However, this will have bigger implications. In about 6 weeks, India and Pakistan are slated to play in the Asia Cup 2025. Since this game hasn’t happened due to public pressure, how can an international match with major superstars go ahead?
People will question the BCCI and the Indian government. They’ll ask, are 2 points worth more than the nation? This legends game may seem trivial, but India vs Pakistan semifinal in WCL may play a major role to see how the public will respond to the same match in the Asia Cup.
