Shoaib Akhtar, Wasay Habib among those impacted; ban hits hard as creators lose Indian audience and ad income
May 6, 2025 | In the aftermath of the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, the Government of India has blocked 16 YouTube channels originating from Pakistan, including accounts of prominent cricketers, analysts, and digital creators. This move, which includes the high-profile account of former pacer Shoaib Akhtar, has significantly impacted creators’ income and visibility.
🔒 Pakistan Cricketers & Influencers Blocked in India
The banned list includes:
- Shoaib Akhtar (cricket legend and YouTuber)
- Wasay Habib and Iffi Raza (cricket humour creators)
- Major news outlets such as Geo News and Samaa TV
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These creators enjoyed massive viewership from Indian audiences, often tailoring their content — especially cricket analysis — to India’s national team and players.
“A large portion of our viewership comes from India… this ban is going to hit many YouTubers hard, both financially and in terms of visibility,” a former Pakistan cricketer told IANS.
💸 Ad Revenue Takes a Hit
With India contributing a significant share of views and ad revenue, YouTubers now face a steep decline in income.
“For creators who depend on YouTube’s monetisation, losing Indian viewership means a steep drop in ad revenue,” a Lahore-based social media strategist told the news agency.
Shoaib Akhtar, known for his admiration of Indian cricket stars like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, had built a loyal Indian subscriber base post-2019.
📵 Ban Extends to Other Platforms Too
- Meta’s Instagram has also taken down accounts of Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mahira Khan, Ali Zafar, and Hania Aamir in India.
- This is part of broader punitive measures following the Pahalgam massacre, which left 26 civilians dead.
India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting stated that the ban aims to curb misinformation and protect national security. Diplomatic ties between the two nations have sharply deteriorated, with further actions including halting mail, trade, and visa services.
🏷️ Tags:
India-Pakistan tensions, Pahalgam attack, Shoaib Akhtar YouTube ban, Pakistani YouTubers blocked, social media crackdown, YouTube India ban, cricket and politics