The expatriate community of Kerala faces a backlash for the reception of Shahid Afridi at the Dubai event; The organizers apologize
A cultural gathering organized by the Cochin University Btech Alumni Association (Cubaa) In Dubai landed in controversy after the former Pakistani cricket player Shahid Afrid Make an unexpected appearance, receiving an enthusiastic reception from the participants. The event, entitled Ormachuvadukal Season 2, took place on May 25, 2025 at Pakistan Dubai Association (PAD). The emergence of a video showing the applauding crowd Afrida has sparked online criticism, in particular in India, because of its recent comments after the Pahalgam terrorist attack in Kashmir.
The presence of Shahid Afridi during an event in Dubai triggers massive outrage
The controversy has intensified when a video clip of the event has surfaced on social networks, showing Afridi receiving strong applause and songs of “boom boom” from the public, mainly comprising Keralite expatriates. The hosts briefly interrupted their performance to recognize his arrival. Afridi, visibly delighted, spoke with emotion of Kerala cuisine and responded with its “Hogaya boom boom” brand sentence. Pakistani cricket Umr gul was also seen during the event, which added to the mood of celebration.
However, positive reception quickly turned into a discord, especially among Indian social media users. Afridi had previously aroused the indignation of his remarks on the Pakistani news channel Samaa TV after the terrorist attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people. In his comments, Afrida had strongly criticized the Indian security forces, describing them as “ineffective” and made fun of the coverage of the Indian media of the incident. He also rejected the reaction of the fraternity of Indian cricket, which condemned Pakistan for the attack, later said by the resistance front (TRF), a Lashkar-E-Taiba group.
Also read: “Kargil Mein Bhi Haraya Tha …”: Shikhar Dhawan explodes Shahid Afridi for insulted the Indian army
Given the sensitivity surrounding the problem, the warm reception of Afridi by a section of the Indian diaspora has attracted the accusations of being “deaf” and “disrespectful” to the victims of the tragedy of Pahalgam.
Here is the video:
“The mysterious India series”: Shahid Afridi criticizes India and the Indian armed forces while supporting the extremists, but the Indian Kerala community in Dubai welcomes it. “My head bows in shame and my blood. pic.twitter.com/kyu4pmkos8
– Lt Col Sushil Singh Sheoran, Veteran (@ sushils27538625) May 30, 2025
The organizers react with clarifications and apology
In the midst of growing criticism, Cubaa published a public statement on May 30, 2025, expressing his regrets with regard to the incident and clarifying their position. The organization said that the presence of Afrida and Gul was neither planned nor guest, because the cricket players attended a separate event at the same place – a Guinness World Record attempt involving the largest flag of water made from hand footprints.
Cubaa explained that the place had been chosen for its affordability and reserved long before the attack on Pahalgam. They recognized that the reaction of the crowd with the sudden appearance of Afrida was spontaneous and out of control of the organizers.
“We deeply regret any pain or offense caused to our Indian colleagues. Our intention was only to celebrate the rich cultural traditions of Kerala and to promote inclusiveness in alignment on the values of our nation “,” Read the official declaration.
The association stressed that the brief judgment in the event to recognize Afridi was not premeditated and reiterated that Afridi and Gul were not part of their official range. They concluded by extending their sympathies to the victims of Pahalgam’s attack and reaffirming their dedication to the promotion of cultural unity within the Indian diaspora.
Read also: Virender Sehwag, Shikhar Dhawan brutally slams Pakistan for having violated the ceasefire with India
