Kerala Community in Dubai Invites Shahid Afridi to Cultural Event? Cochin University Issues Clarification

Amid tensions between India and Pakistan over the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 people, including a Nepali tourist. In retaliation, India's military action destroyed terrorists' infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) under 'Operation Sindoor'. At this stage, the Indian community in Dubai faced backlash and criticism online after a video featuring former Pakistan cricket star Shahid Afridi at a cultural event.

A video that has now gone viral on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) shows Afridi and Gul being welcomed by a group of people of Indian origin while clapping and chanting ‘Boom Boom’, referring to his famous nickname. Afridi was escorted to a stage, where he gave a speech praising the people of Kerala in Dubai and their food recipe. 

Kerala Saar…
100% Literacy saar…

How shameless these Mallu have to be to invite this rascal Jihadi for their event in Dubai specially after Pahalgham. pic.twitter.com/fKfBUnGqQQ

— Wokeflix (@wokeflix_) May 30, 2025

Seeing the viral video, Indian netizens reacted on social media, asking why he was invited to the event despite his recent comments against the Indian Armed Forces and the Indian Army in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and India's military action Operation Sindoor.

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During ongoing military between two countries, Afridi blamed India and Indian Army for the deadly attack in Pahalgam and called the armed forces ‘nalayak’ and ‘nikamma’, meaning useless and inefficient. He also claimed Pakistan had given a befitting reply to India’s strikes and that India had targeted civilian areas, though India had provided proof debunking such claims.

Did the Event Organiser Invite Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul?

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A Thread 🧵 to debunk the claim that Malayali community in UAE welcomed Shahid Afridi.

TRUTH 👇🏻

CUBAA (Cochin University B-Tech alumni association) booked PAD centre in Dubai on 5 April 2025 as the venue for their Ormachuvadukal Season 2 to be held on 25 May 2025 https://t.co/uBB51ZFANrpic.twitter.com/M10gGF3zGL

— Aravind Varier (@VarierAravind) May 31, 2025

After facing backlash for Shahid Afridi’s appearance at their Dubai event, CUSAT’s alumni body CUBAA issues a statement claiming the cricketer’s visit was “unannounced and unsolicited.”

They say no member invited him & regret any hurt caused. pic.twitter.com/VRzxLWlm3g

— Korah Abraham (@thekorahabraham) May 31, 2025

The event organiser dismissed the media reports that they had invited and welcomed  Afridi to the programme. However, Cochin University B.Tech Alumni Association, UAE Chapter (CUBAA) which organised the ‘Ormachivadukal Season 2’ event at Pakistan Association Dubai centre, clarified that Pakistani cricketers mad “unannounced and unsolicited appearance” at their event because it was being held at the same venue as the Guinness World Record for largest UAE flag was being held, which the duo were attending.