Indian sports presenter Sahiba Bali has come under heavy criticism on social media after an old video of her speaking about Pakistan resurfaced online.

 

The controversy started when a clip from an old interview showed Bali talk about visiting Pakistan as a teenager and describing the people she met as “loving”, a remark that has now triggered backlash from Indians.

 

“My trip to Pakistan was eye-opening. This was in 2005. I was a teenager back then and we had gone for someone’s wedding. So, we visited Lahore and Karachi. My perception of Pakistan as a child was what I had seen on mass media, what I had seen in films, what I had seen during cricket matches. When I went there, my perception completely changed. They are so loving. They were so happy to know that we are from Hindustan,” she said.

 

Instagram Post

Instagram Post

 

 

The video quickly gained traction, with many social media users reacting strongly in the comments. Some criticised her statement and called for action against her.

 

One user wrote, “Free visa for her from Pakistan.” Another commented, “Kabhi follow hi nai kiya isko 😂.” A third said, “Ban her from IPL and unfollow her simple,” while others posted remarks such as “Shameless” and “Let's show her place.”

 

Bali currently works as a sports presenter and has built a presence in cricket broadcasting. Before moving into hosting, she worked as an actress and appeared in television projects and short films.

 

She also featured in the film “Laila Majnu” in 2018 and has worked on several OTT projects.