ODI World Cup 2023: Babar Azam-Irfan Pathan interview incident turns out to be fake
In a recent twist of events, Pakistan journalist Naseem Rajput made startling claims on a news channel, alleging that Babar Azam had refused to speak to former India cricketer Irfan Pathan for an interview, citing a reluctance to engage with those who speak against Pakistan. This assertion quickly ignited a firestorm on social media, leading to widespread trolling, heated debates, and intense online confrontations between Indian and Pakistani cricket fans.
The alleged incident, discussed on the show ‘Kuch Cricket Ho Jaye’ on Aaj Tv, suggested that Irfan Pathan’s interview request was initially declined by Babar Azam, both through the production team and when the former Indian all-rounder approached him directly.
Naseem Rajput Said, “Irfan attempted to interview Babar, but Babar declined. Initially, the production team of the channel asked for an interview with Pathan on Babar’s behalf, but the Pakistan captain refused. Later, the former Indian all-rounder approached Babar himself to have a chat. However, Babar once again declined the request, stating that he does not speak to those who speak against Pakistan”
However, it has now come to light that these claims were baseless, and no such interaction ever occurred!
Digital deception: The impact of misinformation in cricketing circles
The misinformation surrounding this incident has spread rapidly across social media platforms, triggering a wave of reactions without proper verification. This incident is reminiscent of another recent case where former India opener Gautam Gambhir called out a popular Indian news channel for spreading false information attributed to him. The channel had published an article quoting Gambhir as saying, “Virat Kohli would have taken singles on 195 if he had been there. But Glenn Maxwell chose to hit six; that’s what makes him different.”
Gambhir vehemently refuted these claims, challenging the channel to cite a source or apologize for the misleading information. In response, the media organization promptly took down the article and issued an apology to the two-time World Cup winner.
These instances highlight the importance of responsible journalism and the need for rigorous fact-checking in the age of digital media. The dissemination of false information not only leads to unnecessary controversies but also erodes trust in the media. As cricket enthusiasts continue to engage in passionate discussions online, it is crucial to verify information before contributing to the social media discourse.
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