Kerala Community In Dubai Faces Backlash For Hosting Shahid Afridi

<p>A Kerala expatriate community in Dubai is under fire after hosting former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi at a recent cultural event, triggering a wave of online outrage. The controversy follows Afridi&rsquo;s inflammatory remarks in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives. In the video that went viral on social media, Afridi received a rapturous welcome from Keralites with the audience cheering and chanting his famous nickname, &ldquo;Boom Boom,&rdquo; as he took the stage.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Afridi praised Kerala for its hospitality and especially mentioned his likeness to Kerala cuisine. He also responded to the crowd&rsquo;s enthusiasm with his trademark line, &ldquo;Hogaya Boom Boom&rdquo;, reported Zee News.&nbsp;</p>
<p>While the event organizers portrayed the gathering as a cultural celebration, the gesture has drawn intense criticism on social media, with many labeling it &ldquo;insensitive&rdquo; and &ldquo;tone-deaf.&rdquo; Critics argue that honouring Afridi so soon after his controversial statements on the Pahalgam attack demonstrates a lack of solidarity with the victims and their families.</p>
<p>The social media users also called the hosts “disloyal”, “disgraceful” and “shameless”.</p>
<h3>Afridi’s Controversial Statement After Pahalgam Attack&nbsp;</h3>
<p>Afridi had previously stirred outrage by blaming the Indian armed forces for the April 22 attack, despite it being widely attributed to Pakistan-based terror networks. He questioned the effectiveness of India&rsquo;s military presence in Kashmir, claiming that even with over 800,000 troops deployed, such incidents continue to occur &mdash; remarks that were met with widespread condemnation in India, as per a report on The Hindustan Times.</p>
<p>The backlash highlights the fine line diaspora communities often navigate when engaging with public figures linked to politically sensitive issues. While Afridi remains a celebrated sports icon in many circles, his political comments have made him a deeply polarizing figure, especially in the current climate of strained Indo-Pak relations.</p>
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