The highly anticipated World Championship of Legends semifinal between India and Pakistan, set for Thursday, July 31, in Birmingham, was abruptly called off after the Indian Legends side declined to take the field against their traditional rivals. Tournament promoters awarded the match—and Pakistan’s place in the final—to the Pakistani Legends squad.
According to insiders, Indian players had already objected to facing Pakistan during the league stage, primarily over the inclusion of former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi in the opposition lineup. With anti-Pakistan sentiment running high in India—amplified by recent military and diplomatic tensions—the team maintained its boycott stance for the semifinal.
The decision drew further controversy when one of the event’s principal sponsors, EaseMyTrip, formally disassociated itself from any match involving Pakistan. In a statement, the travel company reaffirmed its five-year sponsorship of the WCL but declared it would “not support or promote any match that includes Pakistan,” emphasizing its loyalty to “Team India.”
The Indian Champions squad—featuring legends such as Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, and the Pathan brothers—had secured their semifinal berth by defeating West Indies on Tuesday. Dhawan himself had reiterated on social media earlier this week that he would not participate in fixtures against Pakistan.
Meanwhile, the other semifinal between South Africa and Australia is still scheduled to proceed on Thursday as planned. With Pakistan now through to the final by default, organizers must navigate the fallout from what has become a flashpoint intersection of sport, politics, and national sentiment.
