Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has dismissed a viral social media post that falsely linked him to comments about Indian batter Suryakumar Yadav and India’s selection policy.
The post surfaced amid ongoing debate around Suryakumar’s place in India’s T20I setup. India has named Shreyas Iyer as their new T20I captain for the upcoming Ireland and England series, replacing Suryakumar in a major leadership change.
The move became a major talking point as Suryakumar was not only removed as captain but also left out of India’s T20I squad for the upcoming series shortly after the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 win.
According to reports in Indian media, the decision was linked to form and long-term planning for the next T20 cycle. Suryakumar, however, publicly backed Iyer and said he was happy for his India teammate.
Against this backdrop, a post linked a detailed statement to Wasim Akram, claiming that Suryakumar Yadav would have played for five more years after winning a World Cup if he was from Pakistan.
The quote claimed that “parchi doesn’t work in India” and that players must either “perform or make way,” regardless of reputation.
It also praised India’s selection system, saying poor form can put pressure even on established names such as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, while drawing a comparison with Pakistan cricket, where winning a major ICC trophy can sometimes make a player untouchable for years.
Wasim Akram responded directly on X, formely known as Twitter and rejected the statement as fake news.
“Stop lying,” Akram wrote, adding that he would have to report such content. He said things were going “sideways with fake news” and advised people not to believe everything they see on social media.
The former fast bowler also urged users to verify information before sharing it.
“I have learned one thing in this day and age: don’t believe social media straight away. Triple check if you have to,” he said.
Stop lying 🤥 i will have to report you things are going sideways with fake news . i have learned one thing in this day and age don’t believe social media straight away . Triple check if you have too . https://t.co/Tyvt7qvp81
— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) June 10, 2026
Wasim Akram’s clarification made it clear that he had not made the remarks, highlighting how fake remarks can quickly spread online, especially when statements are linked to well-known personalities.
