Shoaib Akhtar’s YouTube Channel Inaccessible in India Amid Government Crackdown

The former Pakistan pacer’s channel joins a growing list of restricted accounts after India’s action against provocative content post-Pahalgam terror attack.

New Delhi, April 28, 2025 —
Pakistan cricket legend Shoaib Akhtar’s YouTube channel has become inaccessible in India as of Monday morning, following the government’s sweeping action against Pakistani accounts in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. Although Akhtar’s name was not on the initial list of 16 banned channels, users reported that his channel could not be found on YouTube or its app, though some of his older videos remain visible.

Also Read: Why Is BBC Faces Government Wrath Over Pahalgam Attack Coverage

Shoaib Akhtar, one of the most followed Pakistani cricket celebrities in India, has been a regular figure in cricket discussions across sports and media platforms. His apparent restriction comes alongside similar reports involving former Pakistan cricketers Rashid Latif and Basit Ali, whose YouTube accounts have also gone dark for Indian users despite not being officially named yet.

Also Read: India Bans 16 Pakistani YouTube Channels Over Pahalgam Attack Misinformation, Warns BBC on Reporting

While certain accounts have been completely suspended in India, others—like Akhtar’s—still have individual videos accessible but their main pages are blocked. It remains unclear if these actions are part of a forthcoming, expanded list of restrictions.

The clampdown follows strong recommendations by India’s Ministry of Home Affairs after the brutal terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, which left 26 civilians dead, most of them tourists. The move aims to curb the spread of provocative, communal, and misleading narratives targeting India and its security forces.

Officially banned YouTube channels include major Pakistani media outlets such as Dawn News, SAMAA TV, ARY News, BOL News, Geo News, and journalists like Irshad Bhatti, Umar Cheema, Asma Shirazi, and Muneeb Farooq, among others.

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Separately, the Indian government has also issued a formal warning to the BBC over its controversial portrayal of the Pahalgam attack, criticizing the British broadcaster for referring to the perpetrators as “militants” instead of “terrorists.”

The situation remains fluid, and further action, including new lists of banned accounts, is expected as the government continues to tighten its stand against content deemed detrimental to national security.

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