India Champions have reportedly decided not to participate in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 semifinal against Pakistan, maintaining their earlier stance from the group stage, where they also refused to play against the same opponent. The India Champions squad features notable former players such as Yuvraj Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, and Piyush Chawla.
The team secured their place in the semifinals after a dominant victory over West Indies Champions, chasing down the target in just 13.2 overs on Tuesday. This comes amid criticism of BCCI over the Asia Cup 2025 schedule, with India and Pakistan set to clash on September 14 and possibly again on September 21 and 28.
Tensions between the two nations have escalated since the Pahalgam terror attack in April, which severely strained diplomatic ties. While there were speculations about the Asia Cup being cancelled due to the political climate, the tournament remains on schedule.
Previously, the WCL group stage fixture between India and Pakistan was officially cancelled after Indian players and a key tournament sponsor raised strong objections. The decision was publicly supported by former cricketers like Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan, who had clearly stated their refusal to participate in the match.
EaseMyTrip Withdraws From India-Pakistan WCL Semifinal, Citing Policy Against Ties With Pakistan
Earlier on Wednesday, EaseMyTrip, one of the primary sponsors of the WCL, withdrew its support from the India-Pakistan semifinal, citing its consistent policy of not being associated with any match involving Pakistan.
“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. @EaseMyTrip, 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. Some things are bigger than sport. Nation first business later, Always,” Nishant Pitti, co-founder of the travel-tech company said in a statement on Wednesday.
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