India, July 31 -- Amid the high-voltage build-up to the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 semi-final, the India Champions grabbed headlines on Wednesday by officially withdrawing from the scheduled clash against Pakistan at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham, prompting the organisers to call off the match. The decision, taken collectively by the players, was in protest of the gruesome Pahalgam terror attack and in line with India's long-standing stance against bilateral sporting ties with Pakistan.

Although the India Champions have yet to release an official statement, an insider told The Times of India that the players chose to withdraw from the semifinal in order to prioritise national sentiment over sporting obligations...