As tensions escalate between India and Pakistan with a series of retaliatory military strikes, former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi has taken a swipe at the Indian media, accusing them of abandoning journalistic integrity.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday evening (May 10), Afridi wrote:
“Instead of reporting facts and objective news, the Indian media has turned into a parody. Their newsrooms now resemble Cartoon Network more than credible sources of information.”
Afridi’s remarks came on a day when both countries suspended their respective T20 franchise leagues—the IPL in India and the PSL in Pakistan—due to the deteriorating security situation.
The chain of events began on April 22, when a militant attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, led India to blame Pakistan. In response, India launched missile strikes on May 6. The following day, Pakistan retaliated with drone attacks on multiple sites. One of these drones damaged a building at the Rawalpindi Stadium complex—ironically, on the same day a PSL match between Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings was scheduled there.
Following the drone strike near the stadium, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) suspended matches at the venue. Initially, the board announced the remaining eight PSL matches would be shifted to the UAE. However, later in the day, an updated press release confirmed that the tournament had been fully postponed.
Meanwhile, in India, an IPL match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamshala was abruptly halted due to security concerns. At the time, India claimed Pakistan’s military had launched attacks along its western border.
Later Friday afternoon, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officially announced that the IPL would be suspended for one week. Additionally, arrangements were being made to send foreign players back to their respective countries as soon as possible.
Amid these developments—but before the PSL was officially suspended—Afridi shared his thoughts in another post on X:
“Sports should rise above borders, religion, and politics. Today, that spirit is under attack. PSL has been moved to Dubai, the IPL has been suspended, and a drone strike has occurred just outside Rawalpindi Stadium. Cricket once united us. Today, it bleeds from the wounds of conflict.”
Expressing hope for peace and the return of normalcy, Afridi added:“Let the stumps stand again—not just for the game, but for peace.”
Currently, Afridi’s X and Instagram accounts are inaccessible in India. According to a report by The Times of India last week, social media accounts of several Pakistani cricketers—including Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shahid Afridi—have been restricted in India. Users attempting to access these accounts from within India are met with a message stating: “This account has been withheld in India in response to a legal demand.”
