What if India-Pakistan meet in the WCL Semifinal Or Final?

Birmingham: The much-anticipated India vs Pakistan clash in the World Championship of Legends (WCL), a T20 tournament featuring retired stars, scheduled for tonight (9:00 PM IST) in Birmingham, was called off at the last minute amid rising political and public pressure.

The cancellation has sparked debates in cricketing circles, especially since both teams might still face each other in the semifinal stage, scheduled for July 31, or potentially in the final on August 2 — both to be held in Birmingham.

If India and Pakistan face off in separate semifinals, a clash in the final remains a possibility — provided both win their respective matches. However, if they end up meeting in the same semifinal, the question arises whether the match will be played at all, given the sensitivities around the fixture.

Why was the match cancelled?

Public backlash: Several Indian fans heavily criticised Indian players for agreeing to play Pakistan in the wake of political tensions.

Player withdrawal:

Shikhar Dhawan had reportedly informed organisers as early as May that he would not play against Pakistan following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam in April.

Harbhajan Singh, along with Irfan and Yusuf Pathan, also refused to participate in the match.

Sponsor boycott: A leading sponsor pulled out of the fixture.

As pressure mounted, the organisers had no choice but to officially cancel the match.

Dhawan’s Stand After Pahalgam Attack

Following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and the subsequent Indian military retaliation in May, Dhawan had made his stand clear: he would not take part in any match against Pakistan. He reaffirmed this position again on Saturday, forcing the organisers into a difficult spot.

Who is playing for India in WCL?

Captain: Yuvraj Singh

Squad Includes: Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa, Varun Aaron, among others

Organisers Apologise

WCL officials issued a formal apology:

⁠“The current situation developed unintentionally. We apologise if anyone’s sentiments have been hurt. Our aim was to bring joy to fans by recreating the classic India-Pakistan rivalry. We had seen a volleyball match and upcoming hockey series between the two countries, so we assumed a cricket match would also be welcomed. However, we have now cancelled the fixture.”

Pakistan Set to Play in India Despite Tensions

Interestingly, the Indian government has allowed Pakistan’s participation in four upcoming sports events in India between August and December, in accordance with Olympic Charter Rule 44:

1.⁠ ⁠Hockey Asia Cup – August

2.⁠ ⁠Junior Shooting World Cup – September

3.⁠ ⁠World Para Athletics Championships – October

4.⁠ ⁠Junior Hockey World Cup – Nov-Dec

But since the WCL is a private league, Indian players are free to refuse to play against Pakistan.

Ajay Devgn – A Stakeholder in WCL

Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn is a co-owner of the WCL, which is being played under the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) banner. The tournament began on July 18.

The cancellation of the match has ignited both political and sporting debates, and the possibility of an India-Pakistan semifinal now hangs in delicate balance — with the world watching closely.