An ad by MakeMyTrip, an online travel company, mocking Pakistan fans, who may have come to India for the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, is receiving flak online for being tone-deaf. The print advertisement was published ahead of the much-awaited India-Pakistan match at Ahmedabad today. The ad begins with the words “An Open Invitation To Pakistani Fans”. “Dear neighbours, let’s take a moment and forget our rivalries. After all, it’s not every day that you visit us. Hope you don’t mind us playing a good host. It’s going to be a big day today. So, staying true to the Indian tradition of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’, we want to extend some heartfelt offers to you,” it read further. The company promised various offers mocking the Pakistan cricket team. It said if Pakistan lost by 10 wickets or 200 runs, they would give 50 per cent off by using the code “BoysPlayedWell”. If Pakistan lost by 6 wickets or 100 runs, they would give 30 per cent off on the use of code “EkShaheenHaar”. If Pakistan lost by 3 wickets or 50 runs, then the company would give 10 per cent discount on the use of code “NoMaukaMauka”. The ad did not go down well with many people who called out the company for being tone-deaf. Here is how social media reacted: Hello @makemytrip what's this horrible & stupid ad now about, whose bizarre idea it was to demonstrate thing's in such a way!! there are other teams also participating bt you guy's didn't shown your any creativity to them pic.twitter.com/n9n7vXMYxm — Aanand Ajeet AJ22 (@Aj22Aanand) October 14, 2023 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 What a horrible ad in terribly bad taste @makemytrip Would you have done this with any other cricket team? Stupid immature incendiary fuckers. pic.twitter.com/VysIkoOAp3 — Revs :) (@Full_Meals) October 14, 2023 This ad is in really bad taste and really stupid..@makemytrip what were you thinking..Our team is fantastic and our country far more gracious..Pls maintain your standards and don't stoop so low to gain attention..Absolutely Pathetic pic.twitter.com/9wexyRKqoJ — Vishek Chauhan (@VishekC) October 14, 2023 India and Pakistan are squaring off in Ahmedabad today. India hold a 7-0 lead over their arch-rivals as they have beat Pakistan in the 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2011, 2015 and 2019 editions of the tournament.
