Lahore Qalandars’ social media accounts banned in India

Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Lahore Qalandars has claimed that the Indian government has blocked access to its social media accounts for viewers in India.

According to a spokesperson for the team, the Qalandars’ official Facebook and Instagram pages are no longer visible to users in India. 

"There has been no official reason given for this action so far," the spokesperson said.

Lahore Qalandars, one of the most popular teams in the PSL and two time former champions, has a global following. The franchise's digital presence is especially strong, with a combined viewership of over 264 million across its social media platforms.

All six PSL franchises enjoy strong international engagement through their digital channels, making this restriction particularly notable.

This move follows a pattern of strained political relations between India and Pakistan. After the Pahalgam incident, the Indian government, under the Modi administration, reportedly influenced sports streaming platform FanCode to suspend the live streaming of PSL matches in India. At the time, the platform also removed highlights and other video content related to the tournament.

In response to these actions, Pakistan expelled all Indian personnel associated with the broadcasting of PSL and sent them back to India.

The latest restriction on Lahore Qalandars' digital content is seen by many as another reflection of ongoing political tensions impacting sporting ties between the two nations.