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What was meant to be a spirited celebration of cultural unity and talent turned into a political firestorm. Former Pakistani cricketers Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul made an unannounced appearance at a Kerala community event in Dubai, sparking widespread outrage back in India due to Afridi’s controversial anti-India remarks made just weeks earlier.
The event in question was Ormachuvadukal Season 2, an inter-collegiate dance competition organised by the Cochin University B.Tech Alumni Association (CUBAA) on May 25, 2025, at the Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD). While the show featured vibrant performances and drew crowds from the UAE-based Malayali community, it’s the presence of Afridi and Gul that stole the spotlight—and not for the right reasons.
Boom Boom Backlash
A video from the event quickly went viral on social media, showing community members halting performances to cheer for Afridi, breaking into chants of "Boom Boom!"—his famous cricketing moniker. Afridi responded in kind with "Hogaya Boom Boom", drawing smiles from attendees, but anger from Indian netizens.
What enraged many was the timing. The video surfaced shortly after Afridi’s provocative comments on the Pahalgam terror attack, in which he accused India’s security forces of incompetence, sparking fury across the Indian public sphere.
Organisers Issue Clarification and Apology
In the wake of backlash, CUBAA issued a formal apology. Titled “Unplanned Appearance at Our Recent Event”, the statement clarified that neither Afridi nor Gul were invited. The cricketers were reportedly at the venue for a separate Guinness World Record event involving the UAE’s largest handprint flag, according to a report.
CUBAA explained that the encounter happened suddenly and without their consent. “No official or alumni invited them. Their presence was unplanned and outside our control,” the statement read.
Social Media Meltdown
Reactions online were swift and scathing. One user wrote, “Patriotism gone for a six... What a shame.” Another lamented, “How disloyal can you be to your country? Disgraceful from a literate community.”
With national sentiment still sensitive in the wake of the Pahalgam incident, what might have been seen as a harmless celebrity sighting has instead spiralled into a full-blown controversy—leaving organisers scrambling for damage control and raising questions about public figures’ responsibilities in politically charged times.
