The Indian cricket crew has formally witdrawn from the World Cricket League (WCL) 2025 semi-final match towards Pakistan as a result of ongoing tensions between the 2 international locations, India Immediately reported, citing sources. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has been knowledgeable about India’s resolution to forfeit the sport, implying that Pakistan has reached the WCL ultimate.
The crew has taken a stand much like what they took within the group-stage match towards Pakistan earlier within the WCL event.
Beforehand, a number of prime former Indian cricketers, together with Shikhar Dhawan and Harbhajan Singh, referred to as for a boycott of Pakistan following Operation Sindoor. On July 31, India was scheduled to play Pakistan within the semi-final of the event on the Edgbaston Cricket Floor.
The boycott got here following remarks made by former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi. Earlier this yr, Afridi accused the Indian authorities of orchestrating assaults by itself residents in Pahalgam, a declare that has generated vital controversy.
Afridi stated: “The terrorists continued to kill individuals in Pahalgam for an hour, and never a single Indian soldier out of 8 lakh confirmed up. However once they did, they blamed Pakistan.”Â
The previous Pakistani cricketer additional claimed: “India carries out terrorism itself, kills its personal individuals, after which places the blame on Pakistan.”
The Indian cricket board is reportedly beneath strain to answer Afridi’s feedback successfully. In the meantime, one of many sponsors of Workforce India, EaseMyTrip, pulled out of the semi-final match, saying that terrorism and cricket cannot go collectively.Â
“We applaud Workforce India @India_Champions for his or her excellent efficiency within the World Championship of Legends, you’ve made the nation proud. Nevertheless, the upcoming semi-final towards Pakistan isn’t just one other sport. Terror and cricket can not go hand in hand. EaseMyTrip, we stand with India. We can not assist any occasion that makes an attempt to normalise relations with a rustic that promotes terrorism. The individuals of India have spoken and we hear them. EaseMyTrip is not going to be related to the India vs Pakistan match in WCL. Some issues are greater than sport. Nation first, enterprise later. At all times. Jai Hind,” EaseMyTrip founder Nishant Pitti wrote on X.Â
Shikhar Dhawan, shared the screenshot of a earlier e-mail with the WCL authorities, the place he said that he wouldn’t play in matches towards Pakistan because of geopolitical tensions. Throughout a match towards England, he was requested if he would play within the semi-final towards Pakistan, which he responded sternly, stating he wouldn’t play if he hadn’t performed earlier.
“Brother, you are asking this query on the incorrect place proper now. When you’re asking that, do you assume I’m going to reply? You should not be asking this query. And if I haven’t performed earlier, then I nonetheless gained’t play,” Dhawan stated on July 27.Â
(With inputs from Rahul Rawat)
