WATCH: Shahid Afridi watches on as India Champions refuse to play Pakistan, his previous remarks come back to hurt him

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Jul 31, 2025, 16:21 IST

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

Yuvraj Singh's India Champions team withdrew from the World Championship of Legends semi-final against Pakistan Champions, protesting strained relations after the Pahalgam terror attack. Despite Shahid Afridi's anticipation, India refused to play, even after their win against West Indies Champions. Pakistan Champions advanced to the final as a result of India's withdrawal.

Explained: Why The India-Pakistan Asia Cup Clash Cannot Be Cancelled Despite Backlash

Shahid Afridi watched on as India Champions exited the stadium after refusing to play Pakistan Champions in WCL.

The India Champions team, led by Yuvraj Singh, withdrew from the World Championship of Legends (WCL) semi-final match against Pakistan Champions, citing unwillingness to play the neighbours due to poor relations following the Pahalgam terrorist attack. The decision left Pakistan Champions' captain Shahid Afridi watching helplessly from the stadium balcony as the Indian team, including players like Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan, departed from the venue.The India Champions team had previously refused to play against Pakistan Champions in the league stage. They maintained their firm stance for the semi-final as well, choosing to exit the tournament rather than face the Pakistan Champions team.

Poll

Should India have withdrawn from the semi-final match against Pakistan?

Yes, it was the right decision.No, they should have played.

This came after Afridi's provocative comment: "Pata nahi ab kis muh se khelga par khelega hamare sath hi (Don't know from which face India will play, but they will have to play against us only)."Afridi's assumption that India Champions would be forced to play due to the knockout nature of the semi-final proved wrong. The Indian team, fresh from their victory against West Indies Champions, chose to maintain their principled stance.

The tournament organisers acknowledged both teams' positions in a statement: "We respect the India Champions' decision to withdraw from the semifinals, and we equally respect the Pakistan Champions' readiness to compete. Taking all factors into consideration, the match between the India Champions and the Pakistan Champions has been called off."As a result of India's withdrawal, Pakistan Champions have automatically advanced to the final of WCL 2025.

Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!

About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

End of Article