The Pakistani veterans team has officially advanced to the final of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) after the Indian side refused to participate in their scheduled semifinal clash. The match, which was supposed to take place on Thursday in Birmingham, was cancelled by the WCL organisers, citing the Indian team’s decision to forfeit.
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The WCL is an international T20 cricket league that brings together retired and non-contracted international cricketers to relive the excitement of competitive cricket. The 2024 edition of the tournament began on July 18 and is being hosted in Birmingham, England. Teams representing various countries have been competing in the T20 format, with many legendary names returning to the field.
A group-stage match between India and Pakistan was also previously called off earlier in the tournament after several Indian players, including former international star Shikhar Dhawan, reportedly declined to play against Pakistan. That incident set the tone for what eventually unfolded in the semifinals.
On Wednesday, WCL organisers took to X (formerly Twitter) to confirm that the India vs Pakistan semifinal had been officially cancelled. Their statement read:
“Taking all factors into consideration, the match between the India Champions and the Pakistan Champions has been called off. As a result, Pakistan Champions will advance to the final.”
While the league expressed disappointment, it respected both teams’ positions. “We respect the India Champions’ decision to withdraw from the semi-finals and we equally respect the Pakistan Champions’ readiness to compete,” the statement continued.
The organisers acknowledged the broader context behind the Indian team’s decision and cited “public sentiment” as a factor that needed to be respected. They further added that although the league believes in the unifying power of sport, they must also remain aware of the views of their audience: “Everything we do is for our audience.”
The owner of the Pakistan Champions team, Kamil Khan, also shared his perspective:
“We have been given a walkover by the WCL management as their stance was that whoever does not play the semi-final, the opposition will be given a walkover,” he said.
Meanwhile, Edgbaston Stadium authorities confirmed that the much-anticipated clash between the two cricketing giants had been cancelled. As a result, fans who had purchased tickets were informed that they would be refunded 50% of their ticket price. The second semifinal, however, proceeded as planned.
The fallout from the cancellation is rooted in ongoing geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan. Earlier this year in April, a deadly attack in Pahalgam, located in the Indian-occupied region of Kashmir, escalated into a military standoff between the two countries. In the aftermath, India launched “Operation Sindoor,” blaming Pakistan for the attack without presenting concrete evidence. Pakistan has strongly denied involvement.
The diplomatic crisis had a ripple effect on the cricketing world. Gautam Gambhir, India’s head coach and a former cricketer himself, called for a complete suspension of cricketing ties with Pakistan at all levels. His stance, supported by other influential figures in Indian cricket, has made bilateral matches between the two nations increasingly rare.
This tension also threatened the 2024 Asia Cup, with rumors swirling that India might withdraw from the tournament. However, both teams remain scheduled to face each other in the upcoming competition, potentially reigniting the rivalry under the continental spotlight.
For now, Pakistan’s journey in the WCL continues as they head into the final. Although their semifinal progression came through an administrative decision rather than a match win, the team remains focused on lifting the trophy and finishing the tournament on a high note.
Fans around the world will now be eagerly waiting to see which team meets Pakistan in the final — and whether the match lives up to the spirit of competition the WCL aims to celebrate.
