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Hindustan Times
3 days 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."
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Kerala community in Dubai faces backlash for hosting Shahid Afridi at event
A segment of the Keralite diaspora in Dubai has come under sharp criticism on social media after warmly receiving former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi at a recent event. The backlash stems from Afridi's remarks following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which intensified tensions between India and Pakistan. In a video that quickly gained traction online, Afridi is seen being enthusiastically welcomed on stage by the Keralite community during the event. The crowd greeted him with loud cheers and chanted 'Boom Boom', a nod to Afridi's well-known nickname. Kerala community in Dubai under fire for warmly welcoming Shahid Afridi, despite his past anti-India remarks (even after the recent Pahalgam attack). Seriously? Patriotism shouldn't have borders when it comes to national sentiment. #Kerala #Dubai #ShahidAfridi #IndiaFirst … — Vivid Insaan ???? (@VividInsaan) May 31, 2025 Pausing their cultural performance to acknowledge his arrival, community members created a lively atmosphere. Afridi responded to the chants, saying, 'Hogaya Boom Boom". During his address, Afridi expressed his fondness for 'the Kerala part in India and its food", further endearing himself to the audience. The event, titled 'Ormachuvadukul 2025,' was organised by the Cochin University Alumni Association (CUBAA) and held at the Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD) Auditorium in Oud Metha on May 25. Afridi's remarks on Pahalgam terror attack The uproar stems largely from Afridi's statements made in April on Pakistan's Samaa TV regarding the Pahalgam terror attack which claimed 26 lives. Afridi suggested that any incident in India is blamed on Pakistan, saying, 'even if a firecracker were to burst in India, fingers will always be pointed at Pakistan". He also criticised the Indian armed forces' security efforts in Kashmir. Social media reacts with strong disapproval The video of Afridi's reception was shared on X 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.' It quickly went viral, sparking widespread condemnation. One user expressed disappointment, commenting, 'Patriotism gone for a six… what 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 questioned the loyalty of the community, saying, 'Don't they have anyone from India origin!! Shame to see this happen.'
NDTV
3 days 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.
