In the wake of Operation Sindoor, India's military retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, a peculiar name suddenly started trending on social media: Richard Kettleborough, the normally stoic English cricket umpire.

There were whispers on social media speculating that Kettleborough had made a subtle "dig" against Pakistan after the Indian Army's cross-border actions. Amusing as it is to some, let's correct this - there is no authenticated statement, comment, or even a whisper from Kettleborough about the military action or Pakistan's political conditions.

Famous for his strict rulings on the field, Kettleborough has always been impartial in his professional approach, never venturing into political statements. The recent allegations appear to have originated from a meme or parody post that went viral, demonstrating how easily fiction can pass for fact in the current social media environment.

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Live Visuals 🚨

~ Celebrations have started in Balochistan after India's 🇮🇳 Operation Sindhoor against Pakistan 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/zeg2lBI1zB

— Richard Kettleborough (@RichKettle07) May 7, 2025

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A cricket umpire’s name trends amid online chaos as fake videos and rumors swirl after Operation Sindoor

While this, the consequence of Operation Sindoor has prompted a spate of online responses. A number of Pakistani social media accounts shared video clips purportedly depicting retaliatory attacks only for eagle-eyed observers to recognize the footage as part of popular video games such as ARMA 3 or Call of Duty. The blunder prompted a spate of memes and derisive comments, with Indian netizens ridiculing the attempt to present gameplay as actual war.

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🚨 Big Victory for Pakistan 🇵🇰

~ Pakistani X handles uploading video game footage, that's a big victory for Pakistan Air Force on Game Play 😅

~ What's your take on this 🤔 pic.twitter.com/ueEu5vYJNk

— Richard Kettleborough (@RichKettle07) May 7, 2025

Others, meanwhile, alerted on social media to the supposed festive fireworks across Balochistan though unverified reports. Some saw it as symbolic solidarity for India's attack against terror strongholds, while others said it was propaganda.

As tensions brew between the two nuclear neighbors, the war over words online persists to escalate many times crossing over into the boundaries of satire, disinformation, and legitimate reportage.

It is certain that Richard Kettleborough is not moonlighting as a military expert. His name trending after a cross-border raid testifies more about the culture of the internet than the nature of international strife.

In the era of voice-converted AI and headline-fueled memes, checking the source is more critical than ever particularly when the name at stake is more famous for "out" and "not out" than "attack" and "retaliation."

With tensions between India and Pakistan rising after the Pahalgam terror attack, it is now very likely that the 2025 Asia Cup will be cancelled. The strained diplomatic relations now severely jeopardise the future of the tournament. The deadly attack, which caused the death of a reported 26 civilians, worsened already-strained bilateral relations between these two countries. Now the terror attack has caught the attention of the world, and with constituents drawing borders down the line of each country's relationship histories, the question of whether or not the Asia Cup is a viable event becomes incredibly sensitive, as both countries are scheduled to participate in the Asia Regional Cup.

In an immediate response to the Pahalgam attack and its ramifications towards Pakistan, the government of India instituted immediate acts of diplomacy. The government of India was one of the first to suspend the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, which was a long-standing agreement with regards to water-sharing between the two countries; and once this was completed, it then stopped all visa services for Pakistan nationals. The turning of hearts and minds, the seriousness of the government regarding cross-border terrorism towards the sub-continent, was already in clear perspective.

With the apparent crackdown, a group of Pakistani citizens living in India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) were ordered to leave within 48 hours of the terror attack, and there was a fresh restriction on the travel for Pakistani nationals to enter India (under the VISA exemption scheme). The diplomatic action that followed calls into serious question whether or not the Asia Cup can actually go ahead - and in the broader context, what about the future of regional sporting events involving both India and Pakistan peacefully co-existing?

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India and Pakistan last played in the Champions Trophy 2025

The strained relationship between India and Pakistan continues to impact cricket significantly. The two nations haven’t played a bilateral series since the 2012-13 season, and their last Test series dates back to 2007. India has not toured Pakistan since 2008. Earlier this year, despite Pakistan being the official host of the Champions Trophy, India played all their matches in the UAE. Since bilateral cricket was suspended, the two sides have only clashed in ICC events and Asia Cups.

Their most recent encounter was in the Champions Trophy, where India emerged victorious and went on to win the tournament. However, given the ongoing political tensions, another India-Pakistan face-off in this year’s Asia Cup now seems very unlikely.

On April 27, 2025, the Indian government went ahead and banned 17 Pakistani YouTube channels, most of them centered around cricket, after the recent Pahalgam terror attack. This has created a lot of discussions, as these channels had over 83 million subscribers collectively, indicating a significant number of cricket fans worldwide viewed content from these ten creators or creators who broadcasted these channels. 

The Pahalgam terror attack, which preceded this action, raised tensions between India and Pakistan and came in good form for the Indian government, as several forms of Pakistani media endured measures and a rationale was created to take down the offending or anti-India media. This included YouTube channels and hundreds of media outlets in Pakistan, to which the usage of false information was used as justification for bans on media channels. The channels banned included a lot of known names in cricket journalism and commentary, inclusive of Geo News, ARY News, and SAMAA TV, as well as individual creators such as Irshad Bhatti and Raufar. 

List of Banned Channels

Below is a detailed list of the banned YouTube channels, their handles, and their subscriber counts at the time of the ban. These are a few other YouTube channels that have also been banned in India.

Total Subscribers: 33.623M

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Pakistani YouTube Channel which got Banned in India .
Thread 🧵-

1. Rizwan haider pic.twitter.com/w9CDXQIrl4

— JosD92 (@J0SD92) April 28, 2025

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Impact on Cricket Fans

A cricket fan will be adversely affected in this case if a more subjective form of viewing or supporting is seen from channels and creators that received reliance, ideas, support, context, updates, summaries, and commentary in terms of Pakistan cricket news updates that included a heavier cargo channel such as Geo News (31.8M subscribers) and ARY News (14.6M subscribers) will be truly important as they received live updates for sports news and coverage of pressing ideas or coverage of some Pakistan cricket news, social media from players, pre- and post-match interviews, and highlights for every significant game they would have taken the time to broadcast and prepare in front of audiences. Small creators such as Muneeb (16K subscribers) and Samaa Sports (73.5K subscribers) had smaller audiences, but this did not matter to their niche study as creators in the cricket fan community.

The decision has generated mixed reactions. Some support the Indian government's position and say that these channels usually disseminated slanted commentary. Some, such as cricket fans and digital rights activists, argue that the ban is an abuse of power and that sport should remain apolitical. As well, the ban calls into question the access to content in a digital age, given that many of these channels were popular not just among people in Pakistan but also among Indian viewers and the diaspora around the world.

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir was recently put in a disturbing spot when he received two threatening emails. Initially, it was feared that the hand of a terror organization such as ISIS was involved. However, in a turn of events, a 21-year-old engineering student from Gujarat named Jigneshsinh Parmar has been found and arrested concerning the case.

The Central District Police picked up Parmar on Friday after tracing the suspicious emails. During interrogation, inconsistencies in his statements led to further scrutiny. According to the police, Parmar’s family claims that he has been struggling with mental health issues. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities trying to determine whether there was any militant link behind his actions.

Gambhir Receives Death Threats Amid Pahalgam Tragedy: Investigation Underway

The threats against Gambhir arrived on April 22, the same day a horrific terrorist attack unfolded in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 people lost their lives. The two emails sent to Gambhir simply read, “I kill you.” Due to the sensitive timing and suspicious origin of the emails, security agencies took immediate action.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) M Harsha Vardhan confirmed the developments, stating, “Parmar is an engineering student. His family claims that he is suffering from mental health issues. Further investigation is in progress.” He also noted that Gambhir, already under Delhi Police protection, continues to receive appropriate security measures.

ALSO SEE: Shoaib Akhtar youtube channel banned in India after Pahalgam terror attack

The Rajinder Nagar Police Station officially registered the FIR following Gambhir's complaint. Gambhir highlighted the gravity of the situation and requested immediate action and increased security for his family in his letter to the authorities. Gambhir has been threatened previously as well. He also received death threats in 2022, which led authorities to increase security around him.

Gambhir Condemns Pahalgam Attack Before Receiving Death Threats

Following the Pahalgam attack, Gambhir had taken to social media to strongly condemn the violence, stating, "Our condolences to the families of the deceased. Those responsible for this act will have to pay the price. India will strike back." It was shortly after this post that the threatening emails arrived. While the investigation continues, the Delhi Police are taking no chances with Gambhir’s safety, and further details are expected to emerge in the coming days.

Gambhir, a key player in India's cricketing past, performed pivotal roles for the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup wins. The BCCI named him Team India's head coach in 2024 and led the Rohit Sharma-led team to a Champions Trophy triumph earlier this year in Dubai.

The terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, has raised the tensions between India and Pakistan yet again. After the attack, cricketers from both nations have been sharing their views. Amidst rising tensions, former Pakistan captain and all-rounder Shahid Afridi has made comments that are sure to provoke a response from Indians. Afridi criticized India for accusing Pakistan of involvement in the Pahalgam attack without presenting any evidence. He went further, blaming the Indian Army’s incompetence for the attack and labeling them as "useless."

Speaking on Samaa TV, Shahid Afridi criticized India's response to the Pahalgam terror attack. The former Pakistan skipper also remarked that even if a firecracker went off, India would blame Pakistan. Afridi pointed out that despite having an 800,000-strong army in Kashmir, such incidents still occurred, which, according to him, reflected the incompetence and inefficiency of the Indian forces. The star Pakistan all-rounder expressed surprise at how quickly Indian media sensationalized the attack, comparing their coverage to a Bollywood production. Afridi added that he found the media’s reactions amusing and questioned the mindset of those who, despite claiming to be educated, reacted in such a manner.

"Patakha phat jaata hai wahaan par, Pakistan ne kiya (Even if a firecracker bursts there, they will blame it on Pakistan). Tum logon ki 8 lakh ki fauz hai Kashmir mein aur yeh ho gaya. Iska matlab nalayak ho, nikamme ho na tum log ki security de nahi sake logon ko (You have an 800,000-strong army in Kashmir and this still happened. It means you are inefficient and useless if you couldn't provide security to the people). Hairat hoti hai ki hamle ke ek ghante ke baad hi unka media Bollywood ban gaya. Khuda ke liye har kuch ko Bollywood mat banao (It's surprising that within an hour of the attack, their media turned into Bollywood. For God's sake, don't make everything Bollywood). Main hairaan ho gaya, balki main enjoy kar raha tha jis tarah ki woh baatein kar rahe they (I was astonished, in fact, I was enjoying the way they were talking). Main keh raha tha dekho inki soch, yeh apne aap ko padhe likhe log kehte hain (I was saying, look at their thinking, and they call themselves educated people)," Afridi said on Samaa TV

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Watch what Afridi said on camera

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by SAMAA TV (@samaatv)

Two former India cricketers also blamed Pakistan: Shahid Afridi

During his comments, Afridi pointed out that without directly naming anyone, two former Indian cricketers, who had represented India extensively and even served as ambassadors of the game, were very quick to accuse Pakistan of involvement in the Pahalgam terror attack. The right-hand batter also expressed disappointment that despite their vast experience and status in the cricketing world, they chose to blame Pakistan without presenting any concrete evidence. The leg spinner also suggested that such actions were irresponsible, especially coming from individuals who held significant influence and were expected to maintain a balanced and mature approach during sensitive times.

"Do cricketers jo India se itni cricket khele hue hain. Ambassadors reh chuke hain, top cricketers reh chuke hain unki taraf se direct Pakistan (There are two cricketers who have played so much cricket for India. They have been ambassadors and top cricketers, yet they directly blame Pakistan)," Afridi also added.

In the aftermath of the devastating Pahalgam terror attack that took the lives of over two dozen tourists, former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly sent a strong message to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to discontinue any and all cricketing relations with Pakistan. Known for his candid opinions, Ganguly did not mince words. “India should break all cricketing ties with Pakistan. Strict action is necessary. Terrorism cannot be tolerated,” he said, as he engaged with public sentiment.

The BCCI is firm with its position that there will not be a bilateral game with Pakistan, home or neutral, unless the Indian government expressly approves it. This action is consistent with national policy and displays India's growing displeasure with repeated incidents of cross-border terrorism with minimal consequences for Pakistan. 

Ganguly's call, issued in 2023, bears similar admonitions he made in 2019, after the Pulwama attack, wherein he expressed that sport cannot take priority over national mourning. "You do not play cricket with a country that supports terrorism. You are sending the wrong message." Thus, this latest statement merely is reaffirming that there is continuity and consistency coming from the former skipper: cricket does not coexist peacefully with terrorism.

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Sourav Ganguly on India & Pakistan's Cricketing relationship. (ANI).

- He said "India should break all cricketing ties with Pakistan. Strict action is necessary. Terrorism cannot be tolerated". pic.twitter.com/8psUjCQEi4

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) April 26, 2025

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National Security Over Sporting Spirit

The BCCI has made it clear that meeting Pakistan outside of the ICC tournaments and the Asian Cricket Council tournaments is a no-go without the explicit clearance from the government. No surprises here. National interest trumps cricketing interest. Sourav Ganguly’s declaration strikes a chord with the many former cricketers and fans who believe that boundaries on the field start with boundaries off the field first. 

There is consensus that India must stay away from Pakistan diplomatically and in sport until Pakistan acts truly against terrorism. In a country that is united by cricket and transcends boundaries, Ganguly's comment is a reminder that loved sports must come second to the lives of innocent people. The Indian cricketing icon's message is clear as the nation mourns the loss from the Pahalgam tragedy: enough is enough!