Pakistani fast-bowling great Wasim Akram found himself at the center of an AI misinformation scare this past week after a deepfake video began circulating online.
Pakistani fast-bowling great Wasim Akram found himself at the center of an AI misinformation scare this past week after a deepfake video began circulating online.
The hoax: A fabricated clip used an AI-generated likeness of his former teammate Shoaib Akhtar to falsely announce that Akram had died of a heart attack. The realistic-looking video spread rapidly across social media, alarming fans across the cricket world.
The family’s first move: Akram’s wife, Shaniera, was quick to respond. She posted a video of him actively working out at the gym — pull-ups, cable pulldowns, barbell presses — making clear in her caption that she’d filmed it on the spot specifically to counter the fake AI content spreading online.
Akram’s own response: He followed up with a video of his own, and leaned into sarcasm rather than outrage. He challenged people to sharpen their fake-news detection skills, joked that he must be recording the rebuttal from beyond the grave, and pointed out — half-impressed, half-exasperated — how much effort had gone into digitally recreating both Akhtar and Shahid Afridi just to spread a hoax. He suggested that kind of creativity would go a lot further if aimed at something constructive. He closed by thanking fans for their concern and confirming he was in good health.
The fallout: The incident reignited a broader conversation among fans and commentators about the growing misuse of AI-generated media in Pakistan, particularly deepfakes made purely to farm engagement.
Yes, that claim is false. Wasim Akram is alive and publicly responded after an AI-generated video falsely claimed he had suffered a fatal heart attack.
In a video posted on his Instagram account, Akram dismissed the rumor, saying:
“If you people cannot identify fake news in today’s modern age, then what use are we old men in our sixties?”
He urged people not to believe or share unverified social media posts, especially AI-generated content designed to look authentic.
This incident is another example of how AI-generated videos and manipulated media can spread misinformation about public figures. A good way to verify such claims is to check:
- The person’s official social media accounts.
- Reputable news organizations.
- Whether multiple trusted sources are reporting the same information.
As of now, there is no truth to the rumor that Wasim Akram has died. He personally confirmed that he is well.
