Do not support match that includes Pakistan, says EaseMyTrip as key Indian players opt out of India-Pak clash
, a prominent Indian travel-tech company and official sponsor of the
World Championship of Legends
(WCL), has said it will not support or participate in any match involving
Pakistan
. The statement came just days before the tournament's opening in the United Kingdom.
In a direct message posted on X, the company said, "Despite entering into a 5-year sponsorship agreement with the World Championship of Legends (WCL) two years ago, 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 and stand firmly by our team. However, as a matter of principle, we do not support or promote any match that includes Pakistan. This position was communicated unambiguously to the WCL team from the beginning. EaseMyTrip supports Team India, but will not engage in any match featuring Pakistan. Let's bring the cup home. Bharat First. Always."
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The message left no room for doubt. The company's alignment is firmly with the Indian squad, not just in sport but in sentiment.
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WCL apologises and cancels fixture
The fallout led tournament organisers to pull the plug on the much-anticipated
India-Pakistan match
. In an official statement, the WCL expressed regret over the situation.
WCL explained that the India-Pakistan fixture was initially announced to echo the spirit of a recent friendly volleyball match between the two countries. The idea, they said, was to give fans something memorable.
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But the reaction wasn't what they expected.
"We may have ended up hurting feelings of many and caused discomfort to Indian legends," the WCL stated, adding, "In the wake of this, a decision to call off the fixture was taken. We apologise for hurting sentiments."
The match was expected to be a high-voltage event, drawing global attention. Instead, it's now off the table.
Cricketers stand their ground
Even before the WCL decision, Indian players had made their stance known.
Suresh Raina
and
Shikhar Dhawan
were among the first to speak out.
Dhawan, in a post on X, shared a copy of the email he sent to the organisers. It dated back to 11 May and made clear he would not play against Pakistan.
The reason was plain. The ongoing geopolitical climate.
In his post, Dhawan wrote, "Jo kadam 11 May ko liya, uspe aaj bhi waise hi khada hoon. Mera desh mere liye sab kuch hai, aur desh se badhkar kuch nahi hota." (I stand by the decision I took on May 11. My country is everything for me and nothing is bigger than the country.)
Sources suggest several other players in the Indian team privately communicated a similar position to the organisers.
A tournament now without its biggest fixture
The World Championship of Legends 2025 is still set to go ahead as planned, minus the India-Pakistan clash. Matches will be played across Birmingham, Northampton, Leicester and Leeds from 18 July to 2 August. The event is sanctioned by the
England and Wales Cricket Board
.
The tournament brings retired international players back to the field in what was expected to be a nostalgic, high-energy series. With the India-Pakistan fixture now cancelled, the spotlight shifts to how the tournament navigates the rest of its schedule.
What remains is a story that blurred the line between sport and national feeling. One match may be off, but the debate it triggered is very much alive.
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