In a surprising twist to the World Championship of Legends (WCL), India has officially withdrawn from the semi-final match against Pakistan, citing ongoing geopolitical tensions as the reason.

The game was scheduled to take place tomorrow in Birmingham, but the Indian team, led by veteran cricketer Shikhar Dhawan, has chosen not to play.

Confirming the decision, Dhawan stated on social media, “In view of our current geopolitical situation and prevailing tensions between India and Pakistan, we have taken this position after due consideration.” The withdrawal effectively gives Pakistan a direct pass to the WCL final.

This isn’t the first time politics has overshadowed sports in the tournament. A much-anticipated group-stage clash between the two rivals was also cancelled earlier after Dhawan and his team refused to participate. That match would have marked India's debut in the tournament.

Organisers of the WCL expressed disappointment, saying the match was arranged in good faith to promote regional sportsmanship. “We hoped the game would foster sporting ties, especially following positive developments like the under-16 volleyball series and Pakistan’s hockey team’s upcoming tour to India,” a spokesperson said. However, they ultimately cancelled the fixture, respecting the Indian players’ sentiments and to avoid causing discomfort to their cricketing legends.

The ongoing geopolitical tensions between the two nations have escalated following a terror incident in Pahalgam earlier this year and heightened cross-border hostilities. These developments have cast a long shadow over efforts to use sports as a bridge for diplomacy.

The World Championship of Legends, which kicked off on July 18, features former cricketing greats from Australia, South Africa, England, and the West Indies. Pakistan played the opening game of the tournament, led by Mohammad Hafeez, while India—under Yuvraj Singh—was yet to make an appearance.