Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Claim: Two male commentators banned from Women’s Premier League commentary box for a sexist remark about a female player dropping a catch.
Fact: This claim is unfounded. No such incident has been reported during the tournament. The claim appears to have originated from a satirical post.
As the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) kick-started earlier this month, it brought a new hope for women’s cricket to thrive. However, amidst the ongoing discussions around the tournament on social media, a graphic claiming the ban of two male commentators from WPL due to a sexist remark caught everyone’s attention. However, Newschecker investigated and found that the claim was a satirical piece, not a real incident.
Several social media users shared a graphic featuring a blurred photograph of three men with the caption, “Two male commentators are banned from the WPL commentary box after one of them mistakenly said “women hahaha” after a player dropped a simple catch.”
Such posts can be seen here, here, here and here.
Also Read: Moeen Ali’s Viral Tweet On Boycotting IPL “Fake”, Confirms ECB
Fact Check/Verification
On analysing the viral graphic, we spotted “VIVO IPL” written on the backdrop of the commentary box. Taking a clue, we looked up “VIVO IPL,” & “commentary box” on Google which led us to a Quora post carrying a zoomed in but unblurred version of the picture seen in the graphic. The three men in the picture were identified as Vijay Bharadwaj, Srinivas Murthy and Sujith Somasundar.
A Deccan Herald report, dated May 2, 2019, also featured the unblurred photograph with the caption, “Sujith Somasundar, Vijay Bharadwaj and (standing) Srinivas Murthy during an IPL match recently.”
Hence, the blurred photograph of commentators used in the viral graphic is old and unrelated to WPL.
But Were Two Male Commentators Really Banned From WPL?
A Google search for “WPL,”male commentators” & “banned” did not yield any credible news reports on the alleged incident.
We further spotted “tw/hp_mode2” written on the right hand side of the image. We then looked up the handle “@hp_mode2” on Twitter, and found the account to be a satirical/meme handle.
The bio of the handle read, “MEMES • CRICKET • PARODY • INTROVERT • ME.” The account featured a series of memes related to cricket and cricketers, including the viral graphic claiming a ban on two male commentators in WPL.
Furthermore, a closer look reveals “satire” written on the left hand side in the viral graphic.
Conclusion
We could thus conclude that the viral graphic claiming that two male commentators are banned from the WPL commentary box over a sexist remark is a satirical post.
Result: Satire
Sources
Twitter Handle @hp_mode2
Report By Deccan Herald, Dated May 2, 2019
Self Analysis
If you would like us to fact check a claim, give feedback or lodge a complaint, WhatsApp us at 9999499044 or email us at checkthis@newschecker.in. You can also visit the Contact Us page and fill the form.
Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
