Shahid Afridi’s Appearance at Indian Community Event in Dubai Sparks Outrage in Indian Media

Dubai: Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi has once again grabbed headlines—this time not for his cricketing feats but for his appearance at an Indian community event in Dubai, which has triggered criticism from sections of the Indian media and social media users.

On May 25, Afridi attended a gathering organised by the Cochin University BTech Alumni Association (CUBAA) in Dubai. A video from the event has gone viral, showing attendees cheering “Boom Boom Afridi” and warmly welcoming the cricketer on stage.

While the crowd in Dubai appeared thrilled to host the cricket star, his presence stirred backlash among Indian nationalist circles and media outlets, who questioned why a figure known for his outspoken stance on Kashmir and criticism of the Indian military was invited to such a function.

In the past, Afridi has made headlines for remarks on the situation in occupied Kashmir, including a statement where he criticised the Indian army’s failure to prevent attacks despite its large presence in the region. He famously commented, “If a firecracker goes off, they blame Pakistan. With 800,000 troops in Kashmir, if something happens, it means you’re incompetent.”

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