Irfan Pathan says Pakistan media ran fake Babar Azam story to defame him

Irfan Pathan says Pakistan media published a fake story claiming he tried to interview Babar Azam and got turned down. Someone had taken a photo of a young Bangladeshi reporter who'd been refused and stuck Pathan's face on it. The piece picked up more than a million views on social media before the lie surfaced.

He spoke about it on JioHotstar's Cheeky Singles and shrugged it off. These things happen often enough that he doesn't bother answering each one — otherwise he'd never get on with his day.

Pathan played 141 Tests between 2003 and 2012, scoring 2,821 runs at 26.12 with one hundred and eleven fifties. With the ball he took 301 wickets at 29.85, including nine five-wicket hauls. In the IPL he turned out for Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, Rising Pune Supergiant and Gujarat Lions.