A quote circulating on social media claims that former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar once said:
“The only team that Pakistani Women’s Team can defeat is our own Men’s Team”
However, this statement has no credible source and is false. There is no record of Akhtar ever making such remarks in interviews, press statements, or on his social media accounts.
Fact-checkers and sports journalists have traced the quote back to meme pages and user-generated content, not verified media outlets. Experts warn this is part of a rising trend of misattributing inflammatory comments to public figures to generate clicks.
Akhtar himself has often denounced misinformation. On separate occasions, he publicly rejected rumors and clarified that certain viral statements attributed to him were fabricated.
Sports analysts caution fans against trusting random social media posts without verification. They emphasize checking original interviews, official channels, and credible news sources before sharing.
The spread of the false quote has already sparked backlash. Many fans and commentators have called it disrespectful toward women’s cricket. Some used it to criticize Akhtar unfairly.
The incident highlights the dangers of misinformation in sports. When fake quotes circulate, they can harm reputations, stir unnecessary controversy, and distract from real issues in the game.
For now, all reliable reports agree: Shoaib Akhtar never uttered the quote about Pakistan’s women’s team beating men’s teams. It remains a baseless viral claim.
