EaseMyTrip, a top sponsor of the World Championship of Legends (WCL), has announced its withdrawal from the upcoming India Champions vs Pakistan Champions semi-final match, citing its policy against participation in matches involving Pakistan. The decision comes as both cricket teams are set to face each other in the tournament's semifinals on July 30.
The travel-tech company's co-founder Nishant Pitti issued a statement explaining their position: "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."
Pitti further emphasised the company's stance: "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."
Social media post by EaseMyTrip's Nishant Pitti on the upcoming India Champions vs Pakistan Champions match in WCL.
Earlier in the tournament, the league stage match between
India Champions and Pakistan Champions was cancelled following objections from Indian legends and a principal tournament sponsor after the Pahalgam terror attack, which had increased military tensions between the two nations.
EaseMyTrip clarified its position through a social media post: "Despite entering into a 5-year sponsorship agreement with WCL, our stance has always been clear—EaseMyTrip will not be associated with or participate in any WCL match involving Pakistan. We proudly continue to support the India Champions but will not support or promote any match that includes Pakistan. This position was unambiguously communicated to the WCL team from the start. Bharat First. Always."
The fate of the semi-final remains uncertain following the sponsor's withdrawal. India Champions' batter
Shikhar Dhawan had claimed in a video that they would not take on Pakistan and their stance will not change on the neighbours.
For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the
India vs England Test match here.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
Read MoreThe TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide.
From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more.
The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics.
We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects.
We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.
Read Less