India-Pakistan semifinal controversy: Indian Legends boycott the semi-final match against Pakistan World Championship of Legends

The heat from across the border reached the game

The terrorist attack in Pahalgam earlier this year once again soured the relations between India and Pakistan. When the army and civilians are attacked in the name of religion, when soldiers are martyred, the layers of peaceful relations on a game like cricket start peeling off. In such an environment, the Indian Legends team had already made it clear that they would not play the league match against Pakistan, and this is what happened. The same stance was repeated in the semi-finals as well.

Cricket is not just a game; it is also the dignity of the country

The Indian team entered the semi-finals by finishing fourth in this league stage. They secured their place by winning the last match against the West Indies Champions. Pakistan Champions proved to be the strongest team in the entire tournament and finished first. However, when the draw for the semi-finals were made, India and Pakistan faced off in the semi-finals yet again, and the controversy started raising its head again. Shikhar Dhawan, who is a former Indian opener and is a part of the Legends team in this tournament, had already said that if India face Pakistan, he will not play in that match. His statement further strengthened the team's stand.

Is this decision against the spirit of sportsmanship?

Many people across the border criticised this decision, saying that sports and politics should be kept separate. However, the question is, when terror is spread against India from Pakistani soil, can cricket be kept out of it? Legends players are not just playing a match; they also carry the sentiments of the country with them. Their decisions are not based on any personal sentiment, but on a larger national context.

BCCI's role and the paradox of the current Asia Cup 2025

Now if we talk about the current men's cricket team, then India and Pakistan have been placed in the same group in Asia Cup 2025. This means that India will not only have to face Pakistan in the group match, but if both the teams reach the final, then there can be a face-off three times. This is the same Pakistan because of which Indian soldiers are losing their lives. This is the same country with which the government does not have any bilateral cricket relations, but no strict action was taken on the clash in the tournament.

BCCI had so much power that they could put pressure on the organisers, but they did not do so. The same firmness that the Legends players showed, the BCCI should have adopted the same attitude. Have money and broadcasting rights become bigger than the dignity of the country in big tournaments?

Why was the decision of the Indian Legends right?

Players who have represented India for years, who have fought not matches but wars for the country on the field, if they say that they will not play against Pakistan, then it is not emotion but wisdom. There is a message hidden in their decision – that the enemy cannot be normalised in the name of sports.

Leaving the semi-final is not a small decision. It is neither defeat nor escape. It is a signal that tells the world that India fights not only with bat and ball but also with principles.

This is a lesson for the young players of India

India's current team has many young players, for whom cricket is just a career. However, it is important to remember that when you wear the Indian jersey, you do not just score runs; you also build the image of the country. Legends players have shown that the country comes first, the tournament later.

Has the time come to redefine international events?

If Pakistan cannot maintain normal relations with India, if Pakistan-sponsored terrorism occurs repeatedly within India, then organisations like ICC and ACC should also understand the gravity of the situation. Can't Pakistan be isolated by changing the structure of events?

Political silence and cricket's double standards

While the government takes a tough stand against Pakistan, why is the policy of sports organisations soft? BCCI have economic power, influence on the international stage, but when it comes to confrontation with Pakistan in multi-nation tournaments, they back off. This is the same organisation that banned any cricket tour of Pakistan to India after the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Now the same organisation has bowed down to the draw of the tournament.

What would Indian fans want?

The Indian public have always wanted not only a win against Pakistan but also to maintain India's dignity. When soldiers are martyred, and civilians are killed in the name of religion, such cricket matches make their families uncomfortable. So when players like legends refuse to play matches, they don't just make a decision, they become the voice of emotions.

Final Words

Any India vs Pakistan match is not just a story of the scorecard. It is also a game of country, honour, pride and policies. The stand taken by the Indian legends is courageous, honest and in the national interest. It is time that the BCCI and the men's team also learn something from this stand

Country comes first, and until Pakistan change their policy, keeping distance from cricket is the only right answer. India must keep their policy clear — terror and cricket cannot go together.

India did not play the semi-final, but they became winners even after losing. They did not put sportsmanship above patriotism, and the same should be adopted by the men's cricket team. Otherwise, history will only criticise those who remained silent.