In a strong tit-for-tat move, the Pakistani government has officially banned the online streaming of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on local platforms.

The decision comes in response to India restricting access to the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and blocking the social media accounts of prominent Pakistani cricketers.

The ban, enforced late Friday night, applies to all digital platforms that previously streamed IPL matches in Pakistan. According to a government notification, the restriction was imposed as a direct reaction to India's recent digital clampdown following the Pahalgam attack in occupied Jammu and Kashmir — an incident that India has used to justify its own ban on PSL content.

Adding fuel to the fire, Indian users have reported that they can no longer access the official Facebook and Instagram pages of Lahore Qalandars, one of PSL’s most followed franchises. The franchise spokesperson confirmed the reports, stating that Indian fans are receiving messages saying, "This page isn't available in your region." While no official explanation has been issued by the platforms, preliminary information from Instagram suggests the restrictions are due to local Indian IT laws.

The digital blackout doesn't end there. Social media users in India have also noted that they are unable to view the profiles of Pakistani cricket stars such as Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Haris Rauf on platforms like X (formerly Twitter). Although these actions have not been officially announced by the Indian government, the inaccessibility has stirred concerns about rising digital censorship between the two cricketing nations.

This escalating digital standoff between India and Pakistan is being seen as a reflection of the broader political tensions — now extending from diplomatic forums to cricket fields and digital screens.