India Champions are set to face Pakistan Champions in the first WCL semi-final on July 31.
India vs Pakistan Semi-Final in Doubt Amid Political Tensions
India and Pakistan are once again poised to clash in the World Championship of Legends semi-finals. However, political tensions have cast a shadow over the high-stakes encounter. Earlier in the tournament, India had opted out of facing Pakistan in the league stage following the Pahalgam terror attack, which intensified military friction between the two nations. With a knockout match now on the cards, the same concerns have returned.
Amid the uncertainty, EaseMyTrip, one of the event’s sponsors, has taken a decisive public stance. Co-founder Nishant Pitti announced that the company would not associate with the semi-final.
“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 stated on social media, distancing the brand from the marquee fixture.
India vs Pakistan – WCL Semi-Final
— Nishant Pitti (@nishantpitti) July 30, 2025
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…
He made it clear that the decision wasn’t driven by business strategy but by national conscience. “The people of India have spoken and we hear them,” said EaseMyTrip co-founder Nishant Pitti, emphasizing that public sentiment was the driving force behind the company’s withdrawal from the India-Pakistan semi-final in the World Championship of Legends. “Some things are bigger than sport. Nation first, business later. Always,” he added.
While lauding the Indian legends for their stellar campaign, Pitti underscored that the significance of this particular match transcends cricket. “We applaud Team India for their outstanding performance in the World Championship of Legends,” he wrote, before reaffirming the brand’s opposition to engaging with Pakistan in any form of sporting contest at this time.
WCL yet to respond
The World Championship of Legends (WCL) organisers have yet to announce whether the India-Pakistan semi-final will proceed as planned, leaving the match’s fate uncertain. Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan, part of the WCL squad, had previously declared he would not play if India faced Pakistan in the semis. When asked about the possibility, a visibly frustrated Dhawan responded, “You’re asking this question at the wrong time and place — you shouldn’t have asked it. And as I didn’t play earlier, I still won’t play now.”
India secured their semi-final spot by finishing fourth in the six-team tournament, clinching victory in their final group game against the West Indies Champions. Pakistan Champions topped the group, setting the stage for the potentially explosive knockout clash.
