A social media post claiming that former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has died has gone viral on X, formerly Twitter, triggering reactions from users who have called out the claim as fake.
The post featured a tribute poster for Afridi, one of Pakistan’s most popular all-rounders, prompting concerns among fans. However, the claim was false, with Afridi reportedly scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of his foundation in Karachi.
Several users criticised the account responsible for sharing the post, accusing it of spreading misinformation to generate engagement.
“This is purely fake news,” one user commented, while another wrote, “Afridi is alive.”
A user also asked Grok, X’s AI-powered chatbot, to verify the claim and provide details about the former cricketer. In its response, Grok described the news as fake and said Afridi was alive and healthy. It also referred to a similar fake death report involving the cricketer that had circulated in June 2025.
Some users called for the post to be taken down, expressing concern over the spread of misleading information about public figures.
Shahid Afridi’s International Career
Afridi represented Pakistan at the international level from 1996 to 2018, playing more than 500 international matches across formats. Known for his aggressive batting and leg-spin bowling, he was a key member of Pakistan’s squad that won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2009.
Afridi made his international debut against Kenya in Nairobi in 1996. He rose to prominence later that year when he scored a 37-ball century against Sri Lanka in an ODI, setting a record for the fastest hundred in the format at the time.
During his international career, Afridi played 27 Tests, 398 ODIs and 99 T20Is. He was named Player of the Match in the 2009 T20 World Cup final, scoring an unbeaten 54 as Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by eight wickets to win the title.
In May 2025, Afridi was conferred with Pakistan’s Hilal-e-Imtiaz, becoming the fourth Pakistani cricketer to receive the civilian honour after Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.
Despite his retirement from international cricket, Afridi remains a prominent figure in the sport. The latest death hoax has once again highlighted how unverified claims about well-known personalities can spread rapidly across social media.
