The Cochin University Btech Alumni Association (CUBAA UAE) conducted an alumni event recently at Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD), in which former Pakistan cricketers Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul were present. What followed after a video of the programme circulated made bigger news.

Afridi was shown being ‘warmly welcomed’ by the participants, despite his strong anti-India views relating to matters of defence and diplomacy between India and Pakistan. Afridi had even expressed his support for Pakistan in connection with the Pahalgham terror attack.

Yet, the crowd at the Dubai event cheered Afridi, chanting his nickname ‘boom boom’. Indian supporters took to social media to condemn the event, and blamed CUBAA for ‘shamelessly’ hosting Afridi.

Following this, Kerala expatriate group CUBAA, claiming to be an alumni association of Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), tendered an apology – with regard to the warmth extended to Afridi – clarifying that the gesture was ‘unintentional’.

“At the time of our event, the diplomatic tensions had already eased. Due to the unavailability of an alternative venue on short notice, we proceeded with the programme as scheduled at PAD Dubai,” they said.

However, CUSAT announced that it had no connection with CUBAA UAE. “The university wants to state that it has no affiliation, association or link with CUBAA UAE,” it said. – editor@nrifocus.com