A storm of misinformation hit cricket circles after BCCI Vice President Rajiv Shukla debunked an AI-crafted audio clip aired on Pakistani TV, falsely quoting him on the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup face-off.
In a direct X post, Shukla set the record straight: ‘AI manipulated the audio in a video of my India-Pakistan World Cup comments. These aren’t my words. Urge everyone not to believe, share this deceptive material, and report such videos.’
Spotlight fell on Shoaib Malik’s ARY News show, which played the clip while dissecting Pakistan’s supposed climbdown from a match boycott threat.
The deepfake featured a convincing Shukla impersonation: ‘Thrilled by ICC rep’s negotiation outcome, at BCCI’s urging, to convince Pakistan for the India game. An ideal, agreed-upon path prioritizing cricket.’
Contrasting this, Shukla’s Tuesday presser had hailed the ICC process objectively: ‘Happy with results from ICC-initiated talks, overseen by chairman, with Lahore dialogues between PCB, BCB. A friendly accord elevating cricket.’
The revelation spotlights AI’s dangerous encroachment into media, potentially derailing sports diplomacy. Reactions poured in from fans decrying the ploy, with calls for tech safeguards intensifying.
As World Cup hype builds, Shukla’s intervention underscores the imperative for discernment. It shifts narrative back to pure sport, away from engineered conflicts, ensuring fair play on and off the field.