NEW DELHI: It’s official. The Yuvraj Singh-led India Champions have refused to play towards arch-rivals Pakistan within the semifinals of the World Championship of Legends. India had beforehand boycotted their group-stage match towards Pakistan earlier within the match. The Indian workforce — that includes legends like Shikhar Dhawan, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, and Yusuf Pathan — took this stand in response to the grotesque Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of many harmless civilians.
“We aren’t taking part in towards Pakistan (in semis). Our nation and nation will at all times be on the prime for us, after which something. India ke liye kuch bhi. We’re proud members of the Indian workforce. We have now struggled and labored arduous to place the Indian flag on our shirts, and we earned it. We are going to by no means let our nation down, it doesn’t matter what. Bharat Mata ki jai,” an insider advised TimesofIndia.com on situation of anonymity.Later within the night, the WCL formally confirmed that the India vs Pakistan semi-final had been known as off, with Pakistan advancing to the ultimate.India had already taken an identical stand earlier within the match once they opted out of taking part in Pakistan within the group stage.The semifinal between India and Pakistan is scheduled for Thursday at Edgbaston Cricket Floor. Nevertheless, the Indian cricketers as soon as once more got here collectively and boycotted the Mohammad Hafeez-led aspect.India Champions certified for the semifinals after defeating West Indies Champions in simply 13.2 overs of their remaining group-stage sport on Tuesday.“Even when we had entered the ultimate and confronted Pakistan, all of us would have completed the identical. All of us Indians are on the identical web page,” the insider added.Earlier, former India opener Shikhar Dhawan was the primary to withdraw from the match towards Pakistan.Dhawan issued an announcement on social media explaining his determination to boycott all matches towards Pakistan, citing the Pahalgam terror assault that passed off in April this 12 months.“Jo kadam 11 Might ko liya, uspe aaj bhi waise hello khada hoon. Mera desh mere liye sab kuch hai, aur desh se badhkar kuch nahi hota,” Dhawan mentioned in his assertion.
