'It was a complete lie': Babar refused Pathan interview? Here's what happened
Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan debunked a viral fake news story claiming that Pakistan's Babar Azam refused to interview him due to political animosity. Pathan explained that the story was based on a manipulated photograph that replaced a Bangladeshi reporter's face with his own.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the growing prevalence of digital misinformation and manipulated media in sports journalism and social media discourse.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has spoken about how fake news and online trolling can spread quickly, recalling an incident involving Pakistan cricketer Babar Azam during the 2023 ODI World Cup.Pathan said a false story claimed Babar had refused to give him an interview because of his alleged comments about Pakistan. According to Pathan, the report was created using a manipulated photograph.“The trolling and fake attribution happen every day," Pathan said on JioHotstar.He explained that a Pakistani media outlet had published a story suggesting he had approached Babar for an interview, only to be turned down.“The media in our neighbouring country once ran a story claiming that I had gone to interview Babar Azam, and that he refused because, according to him, ‘He trolls our country, so I won’t give him an interview.’ It was a complete lie.
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