The India Champions team has withdrawn from their World Championship of Legends (WCL) semifinal match against Pakistan Champions, citing heightened political tensions between the two nations. This decision effectively ends India's participation in the tournament, placing them in fourth position after securing one win, one no-result, and three losses.

The semifinal clash was originally scheduled for Thursday. However, Pakistan Champions will now advance directly to the finals, where they will await the winner of the second semifinal match between Australia Champions and South Africa Champions. This is Pakistan's second consecutive appearance in the WCL final. Last year, they were runners-up, losing to India in the final.

This decision follows a similar stance taken by the Indian team earlier in the tournament, where they refused to play their group stage match against Pakistan Champions on July 20. While the points were shared after India's initial refusal, Pakistan's top-place finish in the group stage, with four wins, has now propelled them into the finals.

Several prominent players from the India Champions team, including Shikhar Dhawan, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, and Harbhajan Singh, reportedly objected to playing against Pakistan. According to NDTV Sports, this decision stems from a significant backlash across social media directed towards the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The BCCI has faced criticism following the announcement of the Asia Cup schedule, which includes the possibility of multiple India-Pakistan matches.

The diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan have deteriorated following recent terror attacks and India's response. These strained relations have seemingly extended into the realm of sports, influencing the India Champions' decision to withdraw from the WCL semifinal.

Adding to the controversy, EaseMyTrip, a principal sponsor of the tournament, withdrew its support for the India-Pakistan semifinal. The company stated that it stands firm on its policy of not engaging in any match involving Pakistan, emphasizing that "terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand". Nishant Pitti, co-founder of EaseMyTrip, conveyed the company's stance, affirming that the nation comes first, business later.

The WCL organizers released a statement acknowledging India's decision and respecting Pakistan's readiness to compete. The statement emphasized the importance of respecting public sentiment and confirmed that Pakistan Champions would advance to the final.