Indian travel ad degrading Pakistani cricket fans faces criticism, backlash

The most-anticipated match of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is being played on Saturday.

Billions of cricket fans from around the world will tune in to watch great rivals, Pakistan and India, play at the biggest cricket stadium, the Narendra Modi Stadium.

The contest will mark the first instance of Pakistan and India playing a One-Day International against each other on Indian soil after 10 years. Their last bilateral meeting resulted in Pakistan defeating the hosts 2-1.

In these exciting times, Make My Trip, an Indian travel company, has launched a newspaper ad campaign, mocking Pakistani cricket fans by promising discounts if Pakistan loses the match.

Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag took to X (former Twitter) and wrote, “Na Ishq mein na Pyaar mein. Jo mazza hai Pakistan ki haar mein.”

Na Ishq mein na Pyaar mein .
Jo mazza hai Pakistan ki haar mein.

Aise kaun invite karta hai yaar 🤣

Sahi khel gaye MMT ! pic.twitter.com/xfN9sk98sG

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 14, 2023

But let’s be honest here, the ad, published in Bangalore Times, Ahmedabad Times and other newspapers, would’ve made sense if the Modi Government had issued visas to Pakistani fans.

Senior editor of CNN News 18, Pallavi Ghosh, believes that the ad is violating sporting spirit.

This is aweful – @makemytrip let’s have sporting spirit – bad in taste pic.twitter.com/qYqppuGfC9

— pallavi ghosh (@_pallavighosh) October 14, 2023

Another X user, Rahul Fernandes, says that this ad doesn’t represent Indian values.

As an Indian, I want to apologize to every Pakistani person for this @makemytrip ad. This does not represent Indian values. It only represents the worst among us. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/xzJ7GWd5hY

— Rahul Fernandes (@newspaperwallah) October 14, 2023

Sumit also criticizes the campaign by saying, “We are terrible people. First, we deny them visas and then this.”

We are terrible people. First, we deny them visas and then this. This is not funny, it only reflects our insecurities and our crass sense of humour. The foundation of any sporting competition is in respecting the opponent and bringing people together. We have forgotten that. https://t.co/pSQ8yQwukp

— Sumit (@SumitPurohit) October 14, 2023

It is pertinent to mention that Pakistani journalists got their visas on October 12 and 13, facing unexplained delays by the Indian government, and were not allowed to be in the media box throughout the World Cup.