The highly anticipated clash between Pakistan and India in the ongoing World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 is set to take place in the semi-final on July 31.
The fixture, which had been earlier scrapped during the first phase of the tournament following India’s refusal to play against Pakistan, will now go ahead as scheduled at Grace Road, Birmingham. The development has reignited excitement among cricket fans, with the two sides now set to face off in a high-stakes knockout contest.
India kept their hopes alive after chasing down a target of 145 runs set by the West Indies Champions in just 13.2 overs. Needing to complete the chase within 14.1 overs to qualify on the basis of net run rate, the Indian side rode on a brilliant half-century from Stuart Binny, supported by key contributions from skipper Yuvraj Singh. They eventually secured victory by five wickets, becoming the fourth and final team to book a place in the semi-finals.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan had bolstered their credentials as title favourites by thrashing the Australia Champions by 10 wickets. The Men in Green topped the points table with four wins from five matches, securing nine points with an impressive net run rate of +2.452.
South Africa and Australia had already sealed their places in the semi-finals, finishing second and third respectively. South Africa registered four wins and one loss, while Australia managed two wins from five matches.
India’s progression to the final four was marked by narrow margins. Despite winning just one of their four group-stage matches, the Indian side edged past England and West Indies on net run rate to qualify. Their refusal to play against Pakistan in the initial phase had stirred controversy and left an air of uncertainty around the tournament's scheduling.
The finalized semi-final lineup now pits top-ranked Pakistan against fourth-placed India, while South Africa will lock horns with Australia in the second semi-final. Both matches will be played on July 31 at the same venue.
Cricket observers have noted that the upcoming Pakistan-India encounter, given its history and the political undertones surrounding the earlier cancelled match, adds a new layer of intrigue and intensity to the tournament.
The World Championship of Legends 2025, currently underway in England, features veteran cricketers representing their respective countries in a T20 format, drawing significant interest from global fans nostalgic for the stars of yesteryears.
