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
Sunil Gavaskar criticises BCCI following the abandoned India-Pakistan clash in Asia Cup 2023.
Fact
Viral quote found to be fabricated.
Several social media users are circulating a purported quote of Indian cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar to NDTV, where he is apparently criticising BCCI’s mismanagement of the ongoing Asia Cup 2023.The much-anticipated India versus Pakistan game in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, which was washed out on Saturday, drew a lot of criticism over the Asia Cup schedule, with former Pakistan Cricket Board chief Najam Sethi taking a jibe at the BCCI for choosing politics over cricket.
After the BCCI refused to travel to Pakistan, the original host of this edition of the Asia Cup, Sri Lanka was picked as the second venue in the first-ever hybrid model, although the island nation usually never hosts international matches during the first half of September due to heavy rain.
The archived versions of the tweets can be seen here and here.
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Fact Check
Newschecker first ran a keyword search for “Gavaskar BCCI NDTV ”, which did not throw up any credible news reports of such a quote. We ran keyword searches of phrases from the viral quote, which did not lead us to any report. NDTV had only published a report of Gavaskar analysing India’s batting order following the clash against Pakistan.
A relevant keyword search led us to his son and cricket broadcaster Rohan Gavaskar’s tweet, dated September 4, 2023, debunking the viral quote. News reports on Rohan Gavaskar’s clarification can be seen here and here. Rohan Gavaskar also tweeted that his “father is under contract with India Today, so he wouldn’t speak to NDTV anyway!”
Conclusion
Viral quote of Sunil Gavaskar criticising BCCI for politicising cricket was found to be fabricated.
Result: False
Sources
Tweet, Rohan Gavaskar, September 4, 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.
