BIRMINGHAM – Pakistan Champions have officially booked their place in the final of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 following a surprise withdrawal by India Champions from the semi-final clash originally scheduled for tomorrow.
The tournament organizers released an official statement confirming India’s decision to forfeit the much-anticipated knockout game against arch-rivals Pakistan.
“At WCL, we believe in the unifying power of sport,” the statement read. “However, public sentiment must be acknowledged. We respect India Champions’ decision to step away and Pakistan Champions’ continued commitment to the tournament.”
As a result of India’s withdrawal, the semi-final has been officially called off, granting Pakistan a direct ticket to the WCL 2025 final.
India Champions Step Back Amid Reluctance to Play Pakistan
Reports from earlier this week indicated that several Indian players were hesitant to participate in the semi-final against Pakistan due to off-field concerns. This decision mirrors an earlier instance in the group stage when India Champions also refused to play against Pakistan, resulting in both teams being awarded one point each.
Despite a rocky start in the tournament, India Champions managed to make a comeback and qualify for the knockout round by defeating the West Indies Champions. In that critical match, Stuart Binny’s brisk half-century and a fiery finish from Yusuf Pathan helped the team chase down 145 runs in just 14 overs.
Pakistan Champions Remain Unbeaten on Their Road to the Final
Pakistan Champions have been the most consistent and dominant side in the tournament so far. As runners-up in the previous WCL edition, they entered the 2025 tournament with high expectations and have lived up to them, winning all their league matches.
Their final group stage encounter saw them dismantle Australia Champions, bowling them out for just 74 runs. Saeed Ajmal’s sensational six-wicket performance sealed the win as Pakistan chased the target within eight overs—without losing a single wicket.
Now, with India stepping aside, Pakistan will await their opponent in the final as they aim to lift the WCL trophy for the first time.