The video, circulated by a Pakistani propaganda-linked social media account, featured a crudely generated voice clone of Tharoor that appeared to show him praising Pakistan’s diplomatic strategy after it withdrew its boycott threat
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Thursday strongly dismissed a viral video that falsely attributed remarks to him about Pakistan’s decision to withdraw its proposed boycott of the high-stakes India–Pakistan T20 World Cup clash.
Calling the clip fabricated, Tharoor said, “AI-generated ‘fake news’ — and not even very good. Neither my language nor my voice.”
The video, circulated by a Pakistani propaganda-linked social media account, featured a poorly generated voice clone of Tharoor, in which a voice resembling his appeared to praise Pakistan’s diplomatic strategy after it reversed its boycott threat.
Pakistan nailed India, says @ShashiTharoor adding, “Pakistan deserves to be appreciated to for taking a bold stand” in #icct20worldcup2026. pic.twitter.com/PUV5RtQbHs
— Zahid Gishkori (@ZahidGishkori) February 11, 2026
“I think how Pakistan played is indeed brilliant. I don’t know what they would do on field, but what they did diplomatically is absolute brilliance. Indian cricket board was completely pinned, hands down. This serves as a lesson that good diplomacy can even make a weak nation appear as a Goliath. Pakistan has done it, and I want to appreciate them for it. It’s unthinkable,” a voice resembling Tharoor in the purported video said.
Earlier, an AI-manipulated audio clip allegedly featuring BCCI Vice President and Congress leader Rajiv Shukla was aired on a Pakistani cricket talk show on ARY News, hosted by former cricketer Shoaib Malik.
The clip, using a voice resembling Shukla’s, suggested he was pleased with ICC-led negotiations that convinced Pakistan to play the India–Pakistan T20 World Cup match. Shukla later said the audio had been altered.
“A video of my remarks on the India-Pakistan World Cup match has been manipulated using AI to alter the audio. These statements are not mine. I urge everyone not to believe or circulate this misleading content and to report it wherever such videos are seen,” Shukla said in a post on X.
He added that the ICC’s move to facilitate the match was significant. “This decision is very important for cricket. Cricket must go on and the World Cup will now be a big success,” he said, stressing that the global body had considered the interests of all stakeholders.
The edited clips pushed a false narrative around the Pakistan-ICC standoff. Pakistan had announced a boycott in support of Bangladesh but later reversed its decision following talks with the ICC.
With inputs from agencies
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