In a bold move, Indian travel company EaseMyTrip has decided to withdraw its sponsorship for the high-profile India vs Pakistan semi-final in the ongoing World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025. The company cited national interest and recent political tensions as key reasons behind its decision to distance itself from the fixture.
India secured their place in the semi-final with a spirited victory over the West Indies, setting up a highly anticipated clash with arch-rivals Pakistan. However, the excitement surrounding the fixture has been overshadowed by renewed political strain following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam.
The group stage encounter between the two teams was already forfeited by India, with multiple players opting out in protest. On Wednesday, EaseMyTrip co-founder Nishant Pitti made the company’s stance clear through a strongly worded post on X (formerly Twitter).
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“Terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand. We cannot support any event that attempts to normalise relations with a country that promotes terrorism,” Pitti wrote.
India vs Pakistan – WCL Semi-Final
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…
— Nishant Pitti (@nishantpitti) July 30, 2025
He praised the Indian team for making the nation proud but asserted that certain values go beyond business and sport. “EaseMyTrip will not be associated with the India vs Pakistan match in WCL. Some things are bigger than sport. Nation first, business later. Jai Hind,” he concluded.
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The withdrawal adds another layer to the political undercurrent of the match, with emotions running high across both nations. In parallel, Shikhar Dhawan, when asked about his participation in the upcoming semi-final, declined to comment directly but made it clear he would remain consistent with his earlier decision not to play. “If I haven’t played earlier, then I still won’t play,” he stated firmly, urging the media to be sensitive when raising such questions during a politically charged time.
