Kerala Community in Dubai Faces Backlash for Hosting Shahid Afridi Amid India-Pakistan Tensions

 Dubai, June 1, 2025, 11:46 AM IST – A recent event organized by the Cochin University B.Tech Alumni Association (CUBAA) in Dubai has sparked widespread controversy after former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi, known for his anti-India remarks, was warmly received by the Kerala expatriate community. The incident, which occurred just weeks after Afridi publicly criticized India’s security forces following the Pahalgam terror attack, has drawn sharp criticism on social media, with many questioning the timing and appropriateness of the gesture amid heightened India-Pakistan tensions.

The event, held on May 25, 2025, at the Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD), was intended as a cultural gathering for the Kerala community. However, it took a controversial turn when Afridi, accompanied by his ex-teammate Umar Gul, appeared on stage to loud cheers and chants of “Boom Boom,” a reference to Afridi’s well-known nickname. The 47-year-old responded with a smile, saying, “Hogaya Boom Boom,” further engaging the enthusiastic crowd. A widely circulated video of the incident on social media amplified the backlash, with netizens accusing the organizers of insensitivity, particularly given Afridi’s recent provocative statements. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKSh4LZBtxP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Afridi’s remarks stem from the aftermath of the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 civilian lives and was attributed to The Resistance Front (TRF), a Pakistan-based affiliate of Lashkar-e-Taiba. Speaking on Pakistan’s Samaa TV, Afridi blamed India’s security forces, stating, “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).” Following India’s retaliatory strikes under Operation Sindoor, which targeted Pakistani security establishments, Afridi led a car rally in Pakistan, proclaiming his country’s “victory” in the conflict—a move that further fueled tensions.

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The warm reception of Afridi by CUBAA, despite his history of anti-India rhetoric, has been met with outrage online. Critics argue that the timing, especially during India’s ongoing efforts to combat Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, reflects poorly on the organizers’ sense of national sentiment. In response to the criticism, CUBAA issued a statement clarifying that Afridi and Gul were not invited guests. “On May 25, 2025, the 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,” the statement read. It further noted, “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 organizing team, officials, or alumni members invited them nor coordinated this appearance.”

Despite the clarification, skepticism persists among critics, who point to the enthusiastic response from the crowd as evidence of a lapse in judgment. The incident has reignited discussions about the responsibilities of Indian expatriate communities in maintaining national sentiment, particularly in the context of ongoing geopolitical tensions. As India continues to navigate the fallout from the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, this event underscores the delicate balance between cultural exchange and national loyalty in diaspora settings. The controversy, unfolding on the eve of June 1, 2025, serves as a reminder of the broader challenges facing India-Pakistan relations and the role of public figures in shaping cross-border perceptions.