Shoaib Akhtar’s `100kmph` among 16 YouTube channels banned by India

In the aftermath of the horrific Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives and left as many injured, the Indian government on Monday banned several Pakistani YouTube channels, including the one run by former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar.

Akhtar’s channel, `100kmph`, known for its cricket analysis and commentary popular among Indian audiences, was among 16 channels that faced the block.

The banned platforms, collectively amassing around 63 million subscribers, include major Pakistani news outlets such as Dawn News, Samaa TV, ARY News, Bol News, Raftar, Geo News, and Suno News. The decision comes amid heightened tensions following the attack, which was carried out by The Resistance Front, a proxy group linked to the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), in what stands among the deadliest attacks in the region in recent years.

Earlier, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajeev Shukla reiterated India`s firm stance against resuming bilateral cricketing ties with Pakistan. He condemned the terror attack and emphasized that India would not engage in any bilateral series with Pakistan going forward.

Shukla pointed out that India had already refrained from traveling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy earlier this year, instead choosing to play all its matches in Dubai. The last instance of a bilateral cricket series between India and Pakistan dates back to 2013. Since then, the two arch-rivals have only faced each other in ICC tournaments.

Several prominent cricketers, both current and former, joined in condemning the attack and called upon the BCCI to sever all cricketing links with Pakistan. Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly was particularly vocal, stating, “100 percent, India should do this (break ties with Pakistan). Strict action should be taken. It has turned out to be a joke that such things are happening every year. Terrorism cannot be tolerated,” he told reporters.

In a strong message to the global community, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured decisive action against those responsible for the attack. Speaking on April 24, PM Modi declared, “Today from the soil of Bihar I say to the whole world. India will identify, track, and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth. India`s spirit will never be broken by terrorism. Terrorism will not go unpunished. Every effort will be made to ensure that justice is done. The entire nation is firm in this resolve.”