England:
The much-anticipated India vs Pakistan clash in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 is once again under a cloud of uncertainty. After the league-stage fixture between the two arch-rivals was cancelled earlier this month, organisers now face another major challenge as the two teams are set to meet in the semifinals.
Background
Pakistan Champions topped the league stage with nine points from five games, while India Champions qualified for the semifinals in dramatic fashion by beating West Indies Champions in their final group game. India finished fourth on the points table, edging out the opposition on net run rate with just one win in the group stage.
The WCL 2025 has been under intense spotlight because of the India-Pakistan fixtures, particularly amid ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two countries. On July 20, several Indian players, including senior batter Shikhar Dhawan, opted out of the league-stage clash against Pakistan, forcing organisers to abandon the game.
🚨 𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗔 𝘃𝘀 𝗣𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡 Champions semi-final it is! 💥
Stuart Binny and Yusuf Pathan have done it!
But now, now, now… the question remains.
– A boycott loading? 🚫
– A reassessment of the fixture for the semis? 🤔
– Or the match will go on like those in a normal… pic.twitter.com/pFGI8qxFaQ— Cricketangon (@cricketangon) July 29, 2025
Current Situation
With the two teams now scheduled to face off again in the semifinals, doubts remain over whether the game will actually be played. Former India opener Dhawan recently doubled down on his stance, saying:
“And even if I didn’t play earlier, I still won’t play now,” Dhawan said in a viral video.
Pakistan Champions’ owner Kamil Khan also hinted at the possibility of avoiding India Champions in the knockouts:
“As for the semifinals and final, we’re currently saying that if we make it to the semifinals, there will be four teams and we will avoid matches between the two teams,” Kamil told Geo News.
Scenario 1: Semifinal Cancelled, Pakistan Qualify
If the semifinal between India and Pakistan is cancelled, Pakistan Champions will automatically advance to the final. This is because they finished higher on the league table, topping the group stage with nine points. India, on the other hand, finished fourth with just one win in five games.
Also Read: Jasprit Bumrah Likely To Miss Series-Deciding Oval Test!
Scenario 2: India Withdraw, Pakistan Qualify
If Indian players decide to pull out of the semifinal, Pakistan Champions will also progress directly to the final. Since the WCL is a private T20 franchise league, such a withdrawal would not involve the BCCI, and Pakistan would advance by default.
Scenario 3: Semifinal Restructuring
Another possibility is that the organisers could restructure the semifinals to avoid an India-Pakistan clash altogether. In this scenario, India Champions could be paired against either Australia Champions or South Africa Champions, while Pakistan Champions would face the remaining team.
This would leave open the possibility of an India vs Pakistan final, should both teams win their respective semifinal matches.
Other Semifinalists
The other two semifinalists are South Africa Champions and Australia Champions, both of whom have been consistent throughout the tournament.
The organisers are yet to issue an official statement regarding the status of the India vs Pakistan semifinal. With tensions high and logistical challenges looming, the fate of the clash is still uncertain. Fans worldwide are now waiting to see whether the arch-rivals will face off in the knockout stage or if the match will once again be called off.
