All Shahid Afridi could do was watch from the stadium balcony as the Yuvraj Singh-led India Champions team left the stadium after deciding to not play against Pakistan Champions in the World Championship of Legends semifinal. The Indian team’s decision came in the wake of the worsened political relations between India and Pakistan, following the Pahalgam terrorist attack. The Indian team first refused to play against Pakistan in the league stage of the campaign, but there were doubts if the same stance would be maintained in the semifinal.
However, as soon as the semifinal fixtures were decided, the India Champions team conveyed their message loud and clear, reiterating their stance on not playing the Shahid Afridi-led team, no matter the occasion.
A video has emerged on social media, showing a helpless Shahid Afridi watching from the stadium’s balcony as Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Shikhar Dhawan, and other members of the team left the venue after India’s withdrawal from the match.
Indian team packing their bags and knocked out out of WCL
Lala watching them from the balcony. #WCL2025 pic.twitter.com/zpmffXfqWE— TEAM AFRIDI (@TEAM_AFRIDI) July 30, 2025
After reaching the semi-final, Afridi had made a provocative statement, saying “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)”. However, Afridi’s comment backfired as the India Champions team preferred to walk out of the tournament than play against Pakistan Champions.
— Shahid Khan Afridi Fan (@Afridiifan) July 30, 2025
Afridi thought India would have no other option but to play against them since the WCL 2025 semi-final is a knockout game, but the Yuvraj Singh-led team decided to walk out with their heads held high than to play against Pakistan.
India Champions had reached the semifinal after defeating the West Indies Champions in their previous match.
“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,” the organisers informed in a statement on Wednesday.
“As a result, Pakistan Champions will advance to the final,” the statement said.
The organisers of WCL said, though they have always believed in the power of sport to bring about positive change in the world, they realise that “public sentiment must always be respected — after all, everything we do is for our audience”.
India Champions have players like Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan, and Yousuf Pathan, all of whom had refused to play against Pakistan Champions on Wednesday.
With IANS Inputs
