New Delhi (RepublicPK) — The Indian government has blocked access to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) official X (formerly Twitter) account, @TheRealPCB, for users inside India. The restriction, confirmed on Sunday, comes in response to a formal demand issued by New Delhi under its digital content control policies.
According to official sources, the action is part of a broader strategy implemented during heightened tensions between India and Pakistan in 2025. Over recent months, Indian authorities have ordered the blocking of multiple Pakistani social media accounts, including those belonging to news outlets, public figures, and sports organizations, citing national security and public order concerns.
The latest move arrives just days before the highly anticipated India-Pakistan cricket clash, a fixture that historically draws massive audiences and intense online engagement. Analysts say the timing underscores the political sensitivity surrounding the match, with both nations already engaged in a series of diplomatic and digital confrontations this year.
Users in India attempting to access the PCB’s X profile are now met with the platform’s standard notice: “Account Withheld. @TheRealPCB has been withheld in India in response to a legal demand.”
While the PCB has not yet issued an official statement, the block is expected to further inflame debate over online censorship, cross-border sports diplomacy, and the role of social media in shaping public sentiment during periods of geopolitical strain.