Shahid Afridi's Death Rumors Debunked: AI Video Misleads Fans
False Reports of Shahid Afridi's Death
A video claiming that former captain of the Pakistan cricket team, Shahid Afridi, had passed away and was buried in Karachi has been circulating on social media. The clip appeared to be a legitimate news report, featuring two anchors discussing his supposed death, which led many fans to believe it was true. Consequently, numerous fans began sharing messages of condolence for the cricket icon.
However, it has now been confirmed that this video is entirely fabricated and generated using Artificial Intelligence (AI). Shahid Afridi is alive and well, and the news is false. The video included manipulated footage, such as images of a road and an ambulance, designed to resemble a live news report. This misinformation caused confusion and distress among cricket enthusiasts in both Pakistan and India.
Watch the AI-Generated Video
Watch the AI generated video here:
Recent Controversies Involving Afridi
Recently, Afridi made headlines for his controversial statements regarding India in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. He criticized the Indian military during appearances on Pakistani news channels, asserting, "Even if a cracker explodes in India, they blame it on Pakistan… You have an 8 lakh-strong army in Kashmir, yet this happened. This means you are useless."
He further claimed, "India is 10 years behind Pakistan… Pakistan is the fastest-growing country with the best technology."
These comments sparked significant backlash from Indian fans, leading to the suspension of Afridi's social media accounts in India due to allegations of promoting hate.
Shahid Afridi's Cricketing Journey
Shahid Afridi played for Pakistan across all formats from 1996 to 2018. He participated in 27 Test matches, scoring 1716 runs and taking 48 wickets. While his red-ball career was not particularly remarkable, his One Day International (ODI) career was filled with thrilling moments and achievements.
In ODIs, Afridi played 398 matches, amassing 8064 runs and claiming 395 wickets. He also represented Pakistan in 99 T20 Internationals, scoring 1416 runs and taking 98 wickets. After retiring from cricket, he ventured into politics and remains active in public life.