A fresh diplomatic row has erupted after a cricket promotional video depicted disputed territories within India's borders. The online clip, released by the Afghanistan Cricket Board on Sunday, has upset Pakistan. This dispute comes just days before a highly anticipated cricket series between India and Afghanistan begins in New Delhi.

The controversy began when Afghanistan's cricket body uploaded a video on social media to promote the upcoming matches. Eagle-eyed viewers noticed that the map in the video placed Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan inside the borders of India. The Pakistan Cricket Board is said to have contacted its country’s foreign ministry to raise official concerns. Pakistan is now reportedly considering whether to take the matter to an international platform.

This sporting clash highlights how deep political rivalries can play out on the playing field. Indian intelligence sources suggest that Afghanistan's choice of map is a deliberate signal. It shows Kabul's desire to build closer ties with New Delhi while ignoring Pakistan's regional sensitivities. Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan are already tense due to border clashes and security disagreements.

UN map row

The cricket dispute follows a separate map row at the United Nations just days ago. Both India and Pakistan recently voted for a UN resolution advocating more accurate land-mass maps. However, India made it clear that any map failing to show Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh as Indian territory is completely unacceptable. Pakistan rejected this claim, calling India's official maps baseless.

With the political temperature rising, attention now turns to the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in New Delhi. The three-match series is scheduled to take place on 13, 15 and 17 September. While Afghanistan's cricket board described the matches as a celebration of shared culture and passion, the boundary lines on the map have ensured the matches carry far heavier significance.