Home
Indian streaming app’s ‘oops moment’: Pakistan crashes the NZ Vs Afg party

Indian streaming app’s ‘oops moment’: Pakistan crashes the NZ Vs Afg party

Web Desk
1 Hour ago

Cricket fans tuning in for a quiet New Zealand vs Afghanistan contest got an unexpected curveball on Sunday when India’s JioHotstar streaming app suddenly rolled out a “Pakistan Review” mid-match, around the fifth over.

The timing raised eyebrows and sparked instant buzz online, especially since there is currently no India-Pakistan match taking place and, more importantly, one may not happen at all.

Just yesterday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) formally informed the ICC that the national team will not play its scheduled T20 World Cup fixture against India on February 15 in Colombo. According to sources, the decision follows a clear government directive, turning what was supposed to be cricket’s biggest showdown into a full-blown political and sporting standoff.

Yet even with the match in doubt, Pakistan somehow found itself front and center on Indian screens – during a completely unrelated contest.

The ICC has acknowledged PCB’s position and is now locked in behind-the-scenes talks, seeking legal clarity while also engaging other cricket boards to prevent a commercial and competitive nightmare. Sri Lanka Cricket has reportedly urged Pakistan to reconsider, warning that skipping the fixture could damage the tournament’s integrity and financial structure.

And the stakes are massive. The India-Pakistan clash is cricket’s most valuable product, driving millions in broadcast revenue, sponsorships, and global viewership. A boycott could mean points forfeiture, net run-rate damage, and a ripple effect across the tournament.

With bilateral cricket frozen for over a decade, multinational tournaments such as the World Cup encounters are the only stage left for the sport’s fiercest rivalry. This is what also made JioHotstar’s “Pakistan Review” drop during NZ vs AFG feel less like coincidence and more like confirmation.

Even without a match, Pakistan remains impossible to ignore. On the field, off the field, or apparently… in the middle of someone else’s game.

Cricket may move on ball by ball, but the India-Pakistan storyline refuses to stay benched.