'It was a complete lie': Babar refused Pathan interview? Here's what happened
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan recalled how fake news spread during the 2023 ODI World Cup after a Pakistani media outlet falsely claimed Babar Azam refused him an interview. Pathan said his face was photoshopped onto a Bangladeshi reporter’s image. He highlighted how such false stories gain millions of views, while recalling his successful international and IPL career.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has spoken about the rapid spread of fake news and online trolling, citing an incident involving Pakistan cricketer Babar Azam during the 2023 ODI World Cup. Pathan recounted how a false story claimed Babar had refused his interview request, allegedly due to Pathan's comments about Pakistan.
This fabricated report was allegedly created using a manipulated photograph, with Pathan's face superimposed onto that of a young Bangladeshi reporter who had refused an interview with Babar. Pathan clarified that the person in the original image was not him, but a Bangladeshi journalist who had approached Babar but was denied an interview.
The misleading story went viral, garnering over a million views, before it was revealed to be false. Pathan emphasized that such lies spread daily about players and themselves, and that responding to every falsehood would prevent him from living his life.
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