Shahid Afridi, the former captain of Pakistan’s cricket team, has been making headlines with his provocative statements against India. Following the Pulwama attack, he sparked outrage by blaming India for the incident and using derogatory language against the Indian army.
Recently, a group from Kerala organized a cultural event in Dubai, where they warmly welcomed Afridi. The event also featured former cricketer Umar Gul. A video of the event went viral, showing the crowd cheering and chanting “Boom Boom” as Afridi arrived. He even addressed the gathering, leaving many to wonder why a group would honor someone who has been so vocal against India.
The event was organized by the Cochin University B-Tech Alumni Association (CUBAA) at the Pakistan Association Dubai’s auditorium. On May 25, the group hosted a dance competition, and Afridi and Gul made an appearance. The video showed the crowd going wild as they entered, with people chanting and whistling.
CUBAA later issued a statement apologizing for the controversy, saying they had not invited Afridi and Gul to the event. The statement explained that the cricketers had visited the venue as part of a Guinness World Record attempt for the largest UAE flag with handprints. The flag was displayed at the auditorium’s main entrance, and the cricketers stopped by the event unexpectedly.
According to CUBAA, their official program had not listed Afridi and Gul as guests, and they had not coordinated their appearance. The group expressed regret for any confusion or discomfort caused by the unexpected visit, saying they had not intended to offend anyone.
The controversy sparked outrage, with many criticizing the group for honoring Afridi despite his anti-India statements. CUBAA’s apology and explanation have done little to quell the backlash, as many feel that the group should have been more mindful of the implications of welcoming someone with such a provocative history.