Former Indian cricketer
In a discussion on JioHotstar, Pathan revealed that the misleading report originated from a Pakistani media outlet. The article suggested that he had sought an interview with Babar, who supposedly refused, stating, “He trolls our country, so I won’t give him an interview.” Pathan vehemently denied the claims, explaining that the story was based on a digitally altered image.
“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. Someone had photoshopped my face onto a picture,” he stated, emphasizing the absurdity of the situation.
Misrepresentation and Its Consequences
Pathan clarified that the individual in the original photograph was actually a young Bangladeshi journalist who had approached Babar for an interview but was turned away. “The person in the original image was a young Bangladeshi reporter who had gone to the ground for the first time and was refused an interview. They literally put my face on his body and spread the story,” he explained. The fabricated narrative gained significant traction, amassing over a million views, leading many to mistakenly believe it was true.
Pathan expressed his frustration with the frequency of such incidents, noting that misinformation about him and other players is a daily occurrence. “This happens every day, but I don’t respond. Every day, some lie is told in our name or about some player. If you keep responding to everyone, you won’t be able to live your life,” he remarked, highlighting the challenges faced by public figures in the age of social media.
A Legacy Beyond Controversy
As a member of India’s victorious 2007 T20 World Cup team, Pathan's contributions to cricket are well-documented. He was named Player of the Match in the final against Pakistan and has an impressive record of 301 international wickets and 2,821 runs. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), he participated in 103 matches, taking 80 wickets and scoring 1,139 runs, solidifying his legacy in the sport.
