Amid ongoing diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan, a high-stakes clash between the two nations’ veteran cricket teams is once again in the spotlight. After their group stage match in the World Championship of Legends was called off due to Indian players’ withdrawals, the arch-rivals are now set to face off in the semifinals.
Road to the Semis
- Pakistan Champions topped the group stage with 4 wins and 1 no result from five matches.
- India Champions finished fourth with just 1 win, 1 no result, and 3 losses.
Under the tournament format, the top four teams from the league stage advance to the semifinals:
- 1st vs 4th (Pakistan vs India – 1st semifinal)
- 2nd vs 3rd (South Africa vs Australia – 2nd semifinal)
Both semifinals are scheduled for Thursday.
Controversy Over India-Pakistan Match
In the league stage, the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan match was abandoned after prominent Indian veterans including Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina withdrew, citing personal and diplomatic reasons. The decision led to outrage and ultimately, both teams were awarded one point each.
Now, as fate would have it, the two sides are set to meet in the knockout stage — raising the question: Will the semifinal also be called off?
Mixed Signals from Organizers
While the tournament rules suggest the match should proceed, Pakistan Champions’ owner Kamil Khan previously hinted at a potential reshuffle to avoid the India-Pakistan clash.
“As for the semifinals and final, we’re currently saying that if we make it to the semifinals, there will be four teams, and we will avoid matches between the two teams,” Kamil told GeoNews.
Despite that, there has been no official word on any schedule changes so far, and given the tournament’s progress and competitive stakes, the semifinal is likely to go ahead as scheduled.
