New Delhi: In the aftermath of the tragic terror attack, the Indian government has now taken down former Pakistan cricketers Shoaib Akhtar and Basit Ali’s YouTube channels. The government has blocked 16 Pakistani channels, including high-profile ones like Dawn News, Samaa TV, Ary News, and Geo News, on the recommendations of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The action has been taken after the ministry said that the channels were “disseminating provocative and communally sensitive content, false and misleading narratives and misinformation against India, its Army and security agencies”.
Amid the crackdown, Akhtar’s channel “100mph” has also been blocked. The former cricketer is widely recognised for his in-depth cricket analysis and engaging commentary and is loved by the Indian audience. His channel primarily focuses on insights related to cricket and matches, but receives a ban as a part of cross-border tensions in light of the recent events in Jammu and Kashmir. When users in India attempted to access these channels, they were met with a red warning message from YouTube that read:
“This content is currently unavailable in this country because of an order from the government related to national security or public order. For further details about government removal requests, please visit the Google Transparency Report.”
On the recommendations of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has banned following Pakistani YouTube channels for disseminating provocative and communally sensitive content, false and misleading narratives and misinformation against
India, its Army and security… pic.twitter.com/2AjzeEuCsW— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 28, 2025
Other cricket-related channels that have been restricted include Wasay Habib, Rizwan Haiser, Aap Ka Mohsin Ali, Muneeb Farooq and Uzair Cricket.
As of now, no public statement has been released by any player, and it remains unclear whether his YouTube presence will be restored in India. However, the broader context of the ban highlights the growing tensions between the two nations, especially during sensitive times and the government’s efforts to curb the spread of the divisive and harmful narratives.
The decision was made following the Ministry of Home Affairs’ recommendation after the Pahalgam terror attack on Tuesday, April 22, 2024. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
