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Pakistan Cricket Board officials have confirmed that viral videos purportedly showing pro-Imran Khan chants at the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL) final were manipulated and falsely circulated on social media platforms.
The doctored clips began circulating on May 3-4, 2026, following Peshawar Zalmi’s five-wicket victory over Hyderabad Kingsmen at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. The match marked Zalmi’s second PSL title and was particularly notable as fans were initially barred from attending PSL matches due to government austerity measures before Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif granted a special exemption for the final.
Multiple social media accounts, predominantly supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), shared videos allegedly showing spectators chanting slogans favoring former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been in custody for 1,000 days—a period his party characterizes as “political victimization.”
One widely shared video appeared to show Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi walking alongside the boundary as spectators chanted “Everyone’s companion, everyone’s friend, prisoner no. 804″—a reference to Khan’s prisoner number. This clip garnered over 230,000 views on X (formerly Twitter) and 1.7 million views on TikTok.
A second video purportedly showed similar pro-Khan chants during Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s attendance at the match, while a third clip depicted stadium-wide chants supporting the imprisoned former prime minister.
Forensic analysis of the videos revealed significant discrepancies. The first video showed clear audio-visual mismatches, with lip movements and facial expressions not corresponding to the audible chants. A reverse image search traced the original footage to a May 2 TikTok post—a day before the final—which contained no pro-Khan slogans.
The second video featuring CM Maryam was even more misleading. News reports and photo evidence confirmed she attended the PSL opening ceremony on March 26, 2026, not the final. The chanting portion of the video was spliced from footage taken at Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar, not Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore where the final was held.
The third video was identified as footage from February 17, 2024, during a match between Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars, more than two years before the 2026 final.
The circulation of these manipulated videos comes at a politically sensitive time in Pakistan. Khan’s supporters have maintained that his prolonged detention is politically motivated, while the current government contends the former prime minister faces legitimate legal challenges.
No credible Pakistani or international media outlets reported pro-Khan chants during the PSL 2026 final, further confirming the falsity of these claims.
This incident highlights the growing challenge of misinformation in Pakistan’s polarized political landscape, where doctored videos and false claims can quickly reach millions of viewers through social media platforms. Media literacy experts have repeatedly warned about the dangers of such content during politically tense periods.
PCB officials declined to comment specifically on the manipulated videos but reiterated that the PSL final was conducted without political incident and celebrated as a successful conclusion to Pakistan’s premier cricket tournament.
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6 Comments
The confirmation that these videos were manipulated is important. We need to be vigilant about verifying the authenticity of online content, especially when it relates to sensitive political issues. Fact-checking is essential.
Interesting that these videos were manipulated. I wonder why certain groups would want to spread misinformation about the cricket event. It’s important to verify claims before sharing them online.
The use of manipulated videos to spread misinformation is a worrying trend. It’s important for the authorities to address this issue and take action against those responsible. Fact-checking and transparency are essential to upholding the credibility of information.
It’s disappointing to see political divisions spill over into sporting events. Cricket should be a unifying force, not a platform for partisan agendas. I hope the organizers can find ways to keep the focus on the game itself.
It’s disappointing to see the political tensions in Pakistan spill over into the cricket arena. I hope the organizers can find ways to keep the focus on the sport and prevent it from being used as a platform for partisan agendas.
This is concerning – the use of doctored videos to promote a political agenda is quite troubling. I hope the authorities take appropriate action against those responsible for the manipulation.