In a recent development, the much-anticipated WCL 2025 semifinal between India and Pakistan is reportedly on the verge of cancellation, with sources confirming that the India Champions have declined to play against their rivals.
India qualified for the semi-finals after a hard-fought and their only win in the league stages, coming against the West Indies.. Stuart Binny led the chase, making sure India reached the 143-run target before 15 overs to qualify for the knockouts. A qualification earned them a spot and drew Pakistan Champions in the semi-finals.
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India Draw Pakistan in Semis
It was anticipated that India would play this high-profile fixture, especially given the financial stakes, much like the Asia Cup 2025, where India is tentatively set to face Pakistan on September 14.. However, this expectation from the BCCI drew sharp backlash from fans, who questioned the board’s stand on patriotism and national sentiment.
Amid this, a top sponsor of WCL 2025 has pulled out from the semi-final clash early on Wednesday, highlighting nation over business, and making their stand clear.
"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.
Also read: IND vs ENG: 'Go report to whoever you want' - Oval pitch curator hits back at Gautam Gambhir
India Boycotts Semi-Final
Just hours later, sources reported that the Indian champions had officially declined to play against Pakistan in the semi-final, with senior players like Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, and Harbhajan Singh taking a strong stance in support of the boycott..
As of now, the WCL management has not responded to India's decision. An official statement is expected before the match, which is scheduled to begin at 5:30 PM IST on Thursday.
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As for the tournament itself, defending champions India had a shaky league phase. With just one win, they still managed to reach the knockouts. Stuart Binny, Yusuf Pathan, and Piyush Chawla have been standout performers, consistently shining throughout the campaign.
Also Read: Double Standards? Gambhir Denied Pitch Access While McCullum Stood on It with Curator
