Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
Former Pakistani cricketer Javed Miandad urges the Indian team to play in Pakistan this year, saying there should be no security concerns as “death will come when it is destined”.
Fact
Miandad made these remarks last year, while speaking about India’s refusal to tour Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023.
Several social media users are sharing an alleged quote by former Pakistani cricket captain Javed Miandad, inviting the Indian cricket team to play in Pakistan this year by saying there should be no concerns over security as “death will come when it is destined,” evoking reactions of ridicule and surprise.
While Pakistan suffered a shock exit in the group stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup in the US and West Indies, India have advanced to the Super 8 phase. The viral remarks emerge amid recent reports that India and Pakistan are scheduled to take on each other at the 2025 Champions Trophy in Lahore, likely to be held between February 19 and March 9.
The archived version of the tweet can be seen here.
Fact Check
Newschecker noticed that Miandad had “invited” India to the Asia Cup to be held in Pakistan in September this year, however, we learnt that the next edition is to be held in 2025 with the hosts not yet finalised.
We saw that the claims referred to a tweet by @PakStartup, following which we ran a relevant keyword search that led us to this tweet, dated April 14, 2023.
A further search led us to multiple news reports on Miandad’s controversial quote, made during a podcast hosted by Pakistani Youtuber Nadir Ali, where he spoke about India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup due to “security” concerns. The reports can be seen here, here and here.
“On an episode on the Nadir Ali podcast, Miandad was asked about his views on India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan due to ‘security’ concerns, to which the former captain said: “Forget security. ‘We believe that agar maut aani hai toh aani hai. Zindagi aur maut toh allah ke haath mein hai’ (If you’re destined to die, you will die. Life and death is in the hands of the almighty). If they call us today, we will go. But they should return too. The thing is the last time we went, but they haven’t come here since. It’s their turn now,” read a Hindustan Times report, dated April 12, 2023. The Asia Cup 2023 was co-hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka in September 2023.
We then came across the podcast, uploaded on Youtube on April 12, 2023 by Nadir Ali, where the viral quote can be seen from the 46:48 mark, confirming that the viral remarks are from last year and not following the ongoing T20 World Cup.
Also Read: Rahul Gandhi Apologises For Pre-Poll Promises? No, Viral Claims Are False
Conclusion
Viral quote of Javed Miandad inviting Indian cricket team to play in Pakistan is from 2023.
Result: Missing Context
Sources
Hindustan Times report, April 12, 2023
Youtube video, Nadir Ali, April 12, 2023
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Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
