Shahid Afridi unfazed as India walks away in WCL semi-final drama

WEB DESK: It seems as if politics would not be getting separated from arts or sports for a while. As the Indian team walked off the field, refusing to face Pakistan in the high-voltage semi-final of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi stood atop still, resolute, and defiant, “like a roaring lion,” watching the moment unfold.

The dramatic turn of events followed Indian media reports that a majority of India Champions players, including captain Yuvraj Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, and Yusuf Pathan, have refused to play against Pakistan, citing political tensions and public pressure.

This is the second such withdrawal by the defending champions in the tournament, they had earlier opted out of a group stage clash with Pakistan Champions, leading to one point being awarded to both teams.

Athletes should be ambassadors, not embarrassments: Afridi slams Legends Match cancellation

India Champions’ road to the semi-finals was anything but straightforward. After languishing at the bottom of the table early on, they staged a last-minute comeback with a commanding victory over West Indies Champions, qualifying over England on net run rate. That win set up a much-anticipated knockout clash with unbeaten Pakistan leaders of the points table and last edition’s runners-up.

However, as soon as the matchup was confirmed, speculation mounted over India’s participation. Dhawan, responding to media queries following a previous game, had strongly reiterated his refusal: “Even if I didn’t play earlier, I still won’t play now.”

Afridi, speaking to the media before the scheduled semi-final, quipped pointedly: “Look at our ages and we’ve still made it to the semis. With what face will India now play Pakistan?”

With no official word yet from tournament organisers, the fate of the semi-final remains in limbo. If India Champions withdraw, Pakistan Champions will advance to the final by default. It was also refreshing to witness fans from India awaiting to take selfies with Afridi as shared on his Instagram story earlier.