Indian travel company EaseMyTrip has announced that it will not sponsor the India vs Pakistan semi-final in the ongoing World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025. The much-awaited clash is set for July 31 in Birmingham, but the build-up has taken a controversial turn, and not for on-field reasons.

“Nation first, business later”

Co-founder Nishant Pitti took to X (formerly Twitter) to share the decision. While he lauded Yuvraj Singh and his team for reaching the semi-final, he made it clear that EaseMyTrip would not be associated with the Pakistan fixture.

“Some things are bigger than sport. Nation first, business later. Always. Jai Hind,” Pitti posted, drawing a clear line between corporate interest and national sentiment.

The move has sparked strong reactions online. While some are hailing it as a bold patriotic statement, others see it as unnecessary politicisation of sport.

Tensions run deep

The backdrop to this announcement isn’t empty air. Earlier in the tournament, the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan group-stage match was called off after several senior Indian players, including Shikhar Dhawan and Harbhajan Singh, opted out.

Dhawan had shared an email with WCL organisers, expressing his refusal to play against Pakistan owing to ongoing political tensions between the two nations.

That moment alone sparked debates about whether politics should seep into a legends league, where many players are retired and where the spirit of the game, not international rivalry, is supposedly at the forefront.

Dhawan’s blunt response goes viral

During India’s group-stage game against England on July 27, Dhawan was approached by a journalist who asked if he would play in a possible semi-final against Pakistan. His response was sharp.

“Brother, you’re asking this question at the wrong place right now. Do you think I’m going to answer? And if I haven’t played earlier, then I still won’t play,” he said, clearly irked by the timing.

So, what now?

With EaseMyTrip’s withdrawal and Dhawan’s refusal still fresh in headlines, the focus has shifted from bat and ball to nationalism and narrative.

While some fans argue that cricket should remain a unifying force and not be dragged into diplomatic or ideological battles, others believe companies and players have every right to take a stand, even if it costs a little business or a big match.

In any case, this WCL semi-final is shaping up to be more than just a contest between bat and ball.

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