India refuse to play Pakistan in WCL semifinal

The World Championship of Legends semi-final clash between India and Pakistan is likely to get cancelled as the Men in Blue have refused to take the field against their neighbours on Thursday in light of the existing political situation. India took a similar stand to what they did in the group-stage match against Pakistan earlier in the tournament. 

 

The Indian team, which includes legends like Shikhar Dhawan, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina among others, have already expressed their unwillingness to play against Pakistan. Bilateral sporting ties with Pakistan cannot be appreciated following the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent 'Operation Sindoor', they believe.

 

The semi-final between the two Asian powerhouses was stated to take place at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground on Thursday. EasyMyTrip, a top sponsor of the league, has already made its position clear on the Indo-Pak match.

 

"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," the travel-tech company's co-founder Nishant Pitti wrote on his 'X' handle.

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"@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," he added.

 

India Champions advanced to the semi-finals of the ongoing World Championship of Legends after defeating West Indies Champions in just 13.2 overs in their last group match on Tuesday.

 

India sneaked in a win and qualified for the semi-finals by gaining around 145 runs against the West Indies champions in the final group stage game. They finished fourth, whereas Pakistan finished at the top.

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