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News18
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Dubai's Kerala Expats Say Afridi, Gul Gate-Crashed Event: ‘Couldn't Ask Them To Leave'
Last Updated: Cochin University alumni group in Dubai says it did not invite former Pakistan cricketers, who arrived at the event without prior notice. The Cochin University BTech Alumni Association (CUBAA) has clarified that former Pakistan cricketers Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul appeared uninvited at their cultural event in Dubai last week, saying the organisers were caught off guard and 'couldn't ask them to leave." The cricketers showed up at Ormachuvadukal Season 2, an inter-collegiate dance competition hosted by CUBAA at the Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD) on May 25. The group said their presence was unsolicited and came just as the event was winding up. In viral videos from the event, Afridi can be seen stepping on stage to loud cheers and chants of 'Boom Boom," his nickname from his playing days. The 47-year-old responded to the crowd saying, 'Hogaya Boom Boom," prompting further applause. Afridi's appearance has drawn backlash online, particularly because it comes weeks after he made disparaging remarks about India following the Pahalgam terror attack. Afridi has frequently criticised India and made politically loaded statements, especially on Kashmir. CUBAA has maintained that the event was entirely cultural in nature and that no political undertone was intended. 'We would like to formally address recent concerns… These cricketers made an unannounced and unsolicited appearance at our event," the organisers said in a statement. After the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 innocent civilians, Shahid Afridi appeared on Pakistani television and blamed Indian security forces, questioning their competence. 'You have an 800,000-strong army in Kashmir and this still happened. It means you are inefficient and useless if you can't provide security to the people," he said. Following India's precision strikes on Pakistani military sites during Operation Sindoor, Afridi was also seen leading a car rally in Pakistan, falsely projecting the developments as a victory for his country. First Published: May 31, 2025, 15:43 IST
Hindustan Times
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Shahid Afridi, Umar Gul were 'not invited': Kerala community in Dubai facing backlash issues statement
After a massive social media outrage over a viral video showing former Pakistani cricketers Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul receiving a warm reception from the Kerala community at an event in Dubai, the organisers have issued a clarification expressing 'deep regret' and offering an apology. The Cochin University Alumni Association (CUBAA), which organised the event, clarified that Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul were not invited by them. According to CUBAA, the ex-cricketers were at the venue on the same day for an entirely different event — a Guinness World Record attempt for the Largest UAE Flag made with Handprints. This detail was also mentioned in a Gulf News report published on May 27, 2025. The controversy stems from the Ormachuvadukal Season 2 inter-collegiate dance competition, held on May 25, 2025, at the Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD). Organised by the CUBAA, the event drew criticism after a video went viral showing Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul being warmly received by the audience, Mathrubhumi reported. As Afridi arrived, the community members paused their cultural performance and broke into chants of 'Boom Boom,' referring to the cricketer's famous nickname. Afridi responded by saying, 'Hogaya Boom Boom". The CUBAA has issued a formal clarification following backlash over the presence of Pakistani cricketers. In its statement titled 'Unplanned Appearance at Our Recent Event', CUBAA clarified that neither Afridi nor Gul were invited by the organisers. According to the organisers, Afridi and Gul made an unannounced and unsolicited appearance at the end of the event. 'No member of our team, officials, or alumni had invited them or coordinated this appearance. Our official event schedule does not list them as guests,' CUBAA said, adding that the brief encounter with the cricketers occurred too suddenly for the organisers to restrict access or control the crowd response. 'We deeply regret any confusion or hurt caused,' the statement concluded. 'It was never our intention to cause offense, and we sincerely apologize to anyone affected. We remain committed to upholding the cultural and inclusive values of our country.' Shahid Afridi has maintained a strong anti-India stance during the recent military and diplomatic tensions between the two nations. While speaking on Pakistan's Samaa TV in April, Afridi said even 'if a firecracker were to burst in India, fingers will always be pointed at Pakistan". He went further, blaming the Pahalgam terror attack on a failure by Indian armed forces, saying, 'Tum logon ki 8 lakh hi fauj hai Kashmir mein aur yeh ho gaya. Iska matlab nalayak ho, nikamme ho na tum log security de nahi sake logon ko (You have an 800,000-strong army in Kashmir and this still happened. It means you are inefficient and useless if you can't provide security to the people).' Afridi also mocked Indian media's coverage of the incident, likening it to a Bollywood production, and appeared to take a veiled jab at Indian cricketers for accusing Pakistan of involvement in the attack. The Resistance Front (TRF), an affiliate of the banned Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack. The clip, shared by an X handle with the caption, 'What a shame!! - Desperate Keralites welcome this Anti-India Paki with 'Boom Boom' at an event in Dubai, especially after Pahalgam terror attack and his venomous stand against India,' quickly went viral. Given the timing and Afridi's controversial remarks, the community's gesture drew sharp criticism online. One user reacted to the video saying, 'Patriotism gone for a a shame. Expected better from them (Kerala community)." Another wrote, 'How much Disloyal can you be to your nation…learn from the most literate people… Disgraceful!" A third user questioned, 'Don't they have anyone from India origin!! Shame to see these happen."
India.com
13 hours ago
- Politics
- India.com
Shahid Afridi Welcomed By Kerala Community In Dubai, Days After Pahalgam Attack Sparks Backlash
In a stunning display that has lit up social media with anger and disbelief, former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi was warmly received by members of the Indian Kerala community during an event at the Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD), just weeks after the horrific Pahalgam terror attack claimed 26 innocent lives. The event, which was meant to celebrate culture and unity, turned into a flashpoint for political and patriotic fury. The moment Afridi took the stage to a loud chorus of 'Boom Boom,' pausing a cultural program mid-way, drew sharp criticism, particularly in the wake of his incendiary anti-India comments following the April 22 attack in Kashmir. WHY? WHY? WHY? Former Pakistani cricketers Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul received a rapturous welcome from the Indian Kerala community during an event held at the Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD). Afridi of all people? — Rahul Shivshankar (@RShivshankar) May 30, 2025 The Flashpoint: Afridi's Comments on the Pahalgam Attack Shahid Afridi has never shied away from controversy, but his recent comments on Pakistan's Samaa TV stirred nationalistic sentiments in India like never before. In a widely circulated clip, Afridi questioned the competence of the Indian Armed Forces, mocking the presence of 800,000 soldiers in Kashmir and yet, in his words, failing to prevent such a massive security breach. 'You have an 8 lakh strong army in Kashmir and this still happened? That means you are inefficient and useless,' Afridi declared on national television. These remarks came after the Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar-e-Taiba affiliate, took responsibility for the attack, which mainly targeted Indian and foreign tourists at Baisaran Meadows—a key tourist destination in Pahalgam. In response, the Indian government took the strong step of banning Afridi's YouTube channel, joining a list that now includes Shoaib Akhtar and Basit Ali's content blocks in India. Kerala Community's Gesture Draws National Ire The outrage didn't take long to erupt. Videos showing members of the Kerala community in Dubai cheering and chanting for Afridi quickly went viral, sparking what many have called a "national embarrassment." What was intended as a gesture of hospitality instead became a lightning rod for criticism. 'Patriotism gone for a six... what a shame,' wrote one user on X (formerly Twitter). Another added, 'How much more disloyal can one be? Especially after what happened in Pahalgam?' The backlash also exposed the growing unease many Indians feel about cross-border engagements that ignore or gloss over serious national security concerns. For a country still mourning the loss of civilians in a devastating terror attack, the warmth shown to someone who openly questioned India's sovereignty felt like a betrayal. Why This Moment Matters This incident goes beyond a cultural event gone wrong—it's emblematic of the larger India-Pakistan dynamic, especially in the realm of soft diplomacy, sports, and public memory. Afridi, once a cricketing icon in the subcontinent, has increasingly positioned himself as a political voice, often making statements that strain his already delicate legacy in India. His admiration for Kerala's culture and cuisine, while seemingly benign, could not mask the hostility of his prior comments. The contradiction was not lost on the public, especially when national sentiments are raw. Keywords That Are Dominating the Conversation The incident has sparked a flurry of trending keywords across search engines and social platforms alike: Shahid Afridi controversy, Kerala community Dubai, Pahalgam terror attack, anti-India comments, Afridi Boom Boom Dubai, India Pakistan tensions 2025, Lashkar-e-Taiba Pahalgam, and Afridi banned in India. These phrases are driving traffic as the event continues to stir debate in digital spaces and drawing the attention of media houses, influencers, and political figures.
NDTV
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Dubai Event Sparks Outrage As Kerala Group Hosts Shahid Afridi Amid India-Pak Tensions
Weeks after Shahid Afridi mocked the Indian side in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, a Kerala community in Dubai welcomed the former Pakistan cricketer, inviting backlash from social media users. The Cochin University Alumni Association (CUBAA) organised the event at the Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD) last week and extended hospitality to Afridi, who has time and again made distasteful remarks against Indians. In a widely circulated video on social media, the notorious Pakistani cricketer could be seen being welcomed on stage, alongside his ex-teammate Umar Gul, by the community amid loud cheers. As he arrived, some members could be heard breaking into chants of "boom Boom" in an apparent reference to the cricketer's nickname. The 47-year-old responded by saying, 'Hogaya Boom Boom". While India is in the middle of #OperationSindoor, the 'Indian Kerala community' in UAE was busy cheering Shahid Afridi & Umar Gul. Kerala once again shows its true colours celebrating Pakistani stars while our soldiers fight on the frontlines. Priorities, right? #KeralaModel … — महारथी-മഹാരഥി (@MahaRathii) May 30, 2025 After the criticism, CUBAA released a statement, claiming that the Pakistani cricketers turned up at the event uninvited as they were attending some other programme at the same venue. "On May 25, 2025 same day as our event, the aforementioned cricketers visited the same venue as part of the Guinness World Record for Largest UAE Flag with Handprints," read the statement. "As our program was concluding, these cricketers made an unannounced and unsolicited appearance at our event, which was held in the same auditorium. We would like to categorically state that no member of our organising team, officials or alumni members invited them nor coordinated this appearance." View this post on Instagram A post shared by CUBAA UAE (@ Also Read | Who Is Megha Vemuri? Indian-American Banned From MIT Event For Pro-Palestine Speech Afridi blames India After the Pahalgam terror attack where 26 innocent civilians lost their lives, Afridi appeared on Pakistani television and blamed India's security forces, questioning their efficiency. "Tum logon ki 8 lakh hi fauj hai Kashmir mein aur yeh ho gaya. Iska matlab nalayak ho, nikamme ho na tum log security de nahi sake logon ko (You have an 800,000-strong army in Kashmir and this still happened. It means you are inefficient and useless if you can't provide security to the people)." Similarly, after India struck multiple Pakistani security establishments as part of Operation Sindoor, Afridi took out a car rally, proclaiming his country's 'victory' in the conflict.
India.com
16 hours ago
- Politics
- India.com
Kerala Community Welcomes Pakistans Shahid Afridi In Dubai, Netizens Fume Calling It Anti-India
New Delhi: A Kerala community in Dubai is facing intense backlash on social media for warmly welcoming former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi at a recent event. The community's hospitality has been slammed, particularly given Afridi's past remarks criticizing the Indian Army's handling of the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. A video circulating on social media shows Shahid Afridi being warmly welcomed on stage by a Kerala community in Dubai. The crowd erupts in loud cheers as Afridi addresses the gathering, praising "the Kerala part of India and its food". The community members enthusiastically chant "Boom Boom", Afridi's iconic nickname, prompting him to respond with a smile, "Hogaya Boom Boom". The community's gesture has been met with sharp criticism online, with many calling it "shameful" and questioning their judgment. The backlash comes amid India's continued efforts to combat Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and Afridi's controversial remarks have added fuel to the fire. Afridi's Controversial Remarks Amidst allegations of Pakistani terror groups' involvement in the Pahalgam attack, Shahid Afridi sparked further controversy by criticizing the Indian Army, calling them "incompetent". His remarks drew widespread criticism, particularly given the scrutiny on Pakistan's role in the attack. The Indian government responded by blocking Afridi's YouTube and X accounts, citing his inflammatory comments. In a talk show, Afridi questioned the Indian Army's effectiveness, stating, "You have an army of 800,000 stationed in Kashmir, yet such an incident occurred. This indicates a complete failure in ensuring the safety of your citizens – you are ineffective and incompetent." These comments have been widely condemned, and Afridi's warm reception by a Kerala community in Dubai was met with disapproval from many social media users. How Netizens React A video on social media sparked outrage, with users slamming the Kerala community's decision to welcome Shahid Afridi, saying, "What a shame!! – Desperate Keralites welcome this anti-India Pakistani with 'Boom Boom' at an event in Dubai, especially after the Pahalgam terror attack and his venomous stance against India." The community's gesture drew sharp criticism online, with many questioning their judgment given Afridi's controversial remarks and the timing of the event. The video sparked a wave of criticism on social media, with one user remarking, "Looks like some folks have forgotten what it means to be Indian." Another user chimed in, "Can't believe they're fetting someone who's been trash-talking our country. Total fail." The Kerala community's decision to welcome Shahid Afridi was widely panned, with many calling it a betrayal of national pride. The backlash was swift and merciless, with users expressing their disgust and disappointment at the community's actions.
