• Source:JND
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India Champions vs Pakistan Champions: In a latest development, India Champions has refused to play against Pakistan Champions in the World Championship of Legends semifinal, scheduled for Thursday, holding their earlier stance of not playing in competitive fixtures against their arch-rivals.

After beating West Indies Champions in just 13.2 overs in their last group match on Tuesday, India Champions sealed its place in the semifinals of the ongoing World Championship of Legends.

"Indian players have refused to play against Pakistan in the WCL semifinal scheduled for Thursday," sources told IANS on Wednesday.

“Retired internationals players representing India Champions have refused to play against Pakistan Champions in the semi-final of the World Championship of Legends in Birmingham," PTI reported, quoting sources.

Earlier, the league stage match between the two arch-rivals was called off after strong objections from Indian players, including former India cricketers Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan, who stated they would not participate in the match.

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Meanwhile, on Wednesday, WCL's one of the main sponsors, EaseMyTrip,  pulled out of the India-Pakistan WCL semifinal, upholding its longstanding policy of non-participation in any match involving Pakistan.

"We applaud Team India @India_Champions for their outstanding performance in the World Championship of Legends, you've made the nation proud. However, the upcoming semi-final against Pakistan is not just another game, Terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand. @EaseMyTrip, we stand with India. We cannot support any event that attempts to normalise relations with a country that promotes terrorism."

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"The people of India have spoken and we hear them. EaseMyTrip will not be associated with the India vs Pakistan match in WCL. Some things are bigger than sport. Nation first business later, Always," Nishant Pitti, co-founder of the travel-tech company, said in a statement on Wednesday as quoted by IANS.

India Champions' campaign in World Championship League

It has been a roller-coaster tournament for the India Champions, who began with a heavy 88-run loss to the South Africa Champions (via DRS method), followed by back-to-back defeats against Australia (4 wickets) and England (23 runs). Their only point before the West Indies match came from the abandoned game against Pakistan.

With IANS Inputs