![Afghanistan gets thrashed after incorrect map of India was showed [Source: AFP and X]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1788793012438_RashidKhanandtheAFGincorrectmap.jpg?type=hq)
Afghanistan gets thrashed after incorrect map of India was showed [Source: AFP and X]
Afghanistan are set to host India for a three-match T20I series in India, with the first game scheduled to be played on September 13, followed by the second and third T20Is on September 15 and 17.
All three matches will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, making the series a major occasion for Afghanistan cricket despite the unusual nature of a home series being staged in India.
However, ahead of the highly anticipated contest, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has landed in controversy after releasing a promotional video that featured a disputed representation of India's map.
Afghanistan Releases Massive Promo For Hosting India In India
The ACB's promotional video was otherwise designed to build considerable excitement around the upcoming series. The approximately 1-minute-15-second video begins with a cinematic presentation of the two nations and their cricketing connection, featuring children wearing India and Afghanistan jerseys.
The opening sequences also showcase Afghanistan's identity beyond cricket, with glimpses of its traditional clothing, landscapes and mountainous terrain. The promo then shifts towards India, bringing in recognisable visuals associated with the country, including Delhi and the Taj Mahal.
The tone changes when a VFX sequence featuring Afghanistan and India appears together on a globe. This was the point that triggered the controversy.
In the graphic, the representation of India's northern territory appeared to miss out on the Kashmir region, with a boundary that Indian viewers considered inconsistent with India's official territorial representation.
The visual appeared to skip the Pakistan-administered portion of Kashmir, missing out on presenting the territory as part of the complete Indian-claimed outline.
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Internet Thrashes ACB Over Wrong Map Of India
The disputed map did not go unnoticed for long. India cricket fans took to social media to question why the ACB had used such a representation in an official promotional video for a series involving India.
The criticism was not directed at the cricketing content of the promo but specifically at the geographical graphic. Fans argued that an international cricket board should exercise greater care when displaying a country's map, particularly when the territory involved is politically sensitive.
Let’s take a look at how the internet reacted to the promo released by Afghanistan:
"Very beautiful video. But request you to kindly use correct map of my country. Kashmir is an integral part of India and its not a disputed territory. We love you so much but love for my nation is bigger. Please rectify the mistake."- @AniketKuma26823
"Hey afganistan cricket please use correct map of India don't do this don't hurt the sentiments of India"- @The_devilR05798
"We call these talibani ou brothers.. just to see a distorted map of India(Kasmir )"- @Mahakal18404278
Why Did India's Kashmir Map Representation Offend Fans?
In India's official cartographic representation, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are shown within India's claimed territorial outline.
The region administered by Pakistan is not treated by India as a separate sovereign territory; rather, India maintains its claim over the entirety of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The ACB's promotional graphic appeared to create precisely the impression that Indian fans objected to. The VFX appeared to visually carve out the Pakistan-administered portion of Kashmir.
Whether the graphic was the result of an oversight, a stock map or a VFX-production error, the backlash has now grown massively, with an immediate correction expected from the ACB.
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