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Former Pakistan cricket captain Wasim Akram recently took to social media to publicly condemn the media houses and netizens for a severe case of mistaken identity. His outrage stemmed from news reports linking him to a spy who was arrested in Haryana, who coincidentally shared the same name. Akram slammed those dragging his name into the controversy for failing to double-check their facts before posting or commenting.
Pakistan great Wasim Akram slams media for lack of verification
The controversy began after a YouTuber, also named Wasim Akram, was arrested on October 2 for allegedly spying for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and its High Commission, having reportedly helped them with SIM cards over a three-year period. It was this arrest that led to the cricketer’s photos being mistakenly published alongside the news.
The former Pakistan captain, in the latter half of his video, pointed out the absurdity of the situation while giving his “free advice.” He stated: “Woh mulk mein koi jasoos pakda gaya hai uska naam Wasim Akram hain, news channel photo meri laga rahe hain. Kaun log ho tussi, kitthu aaye ho. Koi check nahin, koi balance nahin, ulte lot pot hoke comment pe comment. Not realizing woh mera account nahin hai. So, relax rahe aur pehle check karein.” Akram urged the public to “relax and double check,” emphasizing the need for personal responsibility before engaging with such sensitive news.
Here’s the video:
Sultan of swing Wasim Akram urges people to verify the news before posting it on social media. | | |
— Khel Shel (@khelshel)
The case of mistaken identity and Akram’s free advice to people of Indian subcontinent
The legendary cricketer did not hold back in his criticism, addressing the general lack of accountability and simple verification among social media users and news outlets. He found it unacceptable that despite the availability of resources, his photo was being used in connection with the arrest of the spy.
Wasim sarcastically referred to his critics as “overly smart” for not checking the actual Instagram accounts or basic facts. Speaking directly into the camera in a video that surfaced online, the 59-year-old said: “Aap Log social media pe hai aaj kal. Ek muft ki advice de raha hoon, halaki deta nahin hoon. General advice kyunki Pakistan subcontinent mein har koi advice leke tayyar baitha hai. Yeh hai ki har koi Wasim Akram, jo jiska count hai Instagram pe, agar aap itne dedh hoshyar hain, toh thoda double check kar lijiye.” His frustration was palpable, stemming from the ease with which damaging misinformation was being spread without any consideration for the facts.
