In a significant digital development amid rising geopolitical tensions, the Indian government has blocked the Instagram accounts of prominent Pakistani cricketers Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Haris Rauf. The move came on Friday, May 2, days after the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that claimed 26 lives, stirring fresh waves of hostility across borders.
The ban was implemented without an official public statement from Indian authorities but is seen as part of a larger crackdown on digital footprints amid national security concerns.
Afridi’s Instagram Still Active Despite Comments Against Indian Army
Interestingly, the Instagram account of Shahid Afridi, former Pakistan captain and all-rounder, remains active in India. This is despite Afridi’s controversial remarks aired on Samaa TV, where he criticized the Indian Army following the Pahalgam tragedy. He demanded proof of Pakistan’s alleged involvement in the attack and ridiculed India’s security apparatus.
“You have an 8 lakh-strong army in Kashmir, yet this happened. That means you are incompetent,” Afridi said, sparking backlash across Indian social media platforms.
Arshad Nadeem Also Blocked
Earlier, on May 1, the Instagram account of Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan’s Tokyo Olympics gold medallist in javelin, was also blocked in India. The athlete had not made any public political statements, but the block is presumed to be part of the same broader action.
Cricketers Currently Active in PSL 2025
The affected cricketers are among the biggest names in Pakistan cricket and currently active in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 season:
- Babar Azam – Leading Peshawar Zalmi; scored only one half-century in six games.
- Mohammad Rizwan – Captain of Multan Sultans; currently the tournament’s top run-getter with 346 runs in eight matches.
- Shaheen Shah Afridi – Leading Lahore Qalandars; continues to be a key bowler despite team struggles.
- Haris Rauf – Also part of Lahore Qalandars; battling for consistency this season.
Rising Tensions Threaten Sports Diplomacy
These developments come at a time when cricket diplomacy between India and Pakistan is already hanging by a thread. With tensions escalating, such actions may further strain any remaining possibility of bilateral sporting exchanges.
The blocking of accounts belonging to sporting icons underlines how even off-field platforms are becoming battlegrounds for political and ideological conflict.
