After not playing their group-stage game against Pakistan Champions in the ongoing World Champions League (WCL), India have also boycotted playing the semi-final match against arch-rivals after qualifying for the playoffs on Wednesday, July 30. The Yuvraj Singh-led side is firm on its stance against playing bilateral matches against Men in Green in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack.
According to a PTI report, Shikhar Dhawan, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, and Suresh Raina have already clarified to WCL authorities about their unwillingness to play against Pakistan in the knockout game in WCL. Notably, the Indian team also did not play their league fixture against their arch-rival on July 27. The tournament organizers later called off the game and apologized to the Indian team for "unintentionally causing discomfort" to the players.
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EaseMyTrip not to be associated with India vs Pakistan WCL semi-final match
Notably, EaseMyTrip, the WCL's top sponsor, announced today that it won't associate with the semi-final clash between India and Pakistan. The same was shared on social media, was made in the interest of the national team and fans' sentiments, with company co-founder Nishant Pitti stating that “terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand.”
"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," Pitti wrote on his 'X' handle.
"@EaseMyTrip, we stand with India. We cannot support any event that attempts to normalise relations with a country that promotes terrorism. The people of India have spoken, and we hear them. EaseMyTrip will not be associated with the India vs Pakistan match in WCL."
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