The viral claim saying Pakistan gave VVIP security to the Sri Lankan cricket team is based on an old video!

Subscribe to our WhatsApp Channel

Mainstream media outlets in Sri Lanka, as well as international media, sometimes tend to mislead audiences by reporting without proper verification. We investigated a video purportedly showing Pakistan providing high-level security to the Sri Lankan cricket team. Let’s look at the viral clip first.

Social Media Posts:

A video circulated on social media claims that the recent deadly suicide bombing in Islamabad raised security concerns about the ongoing tour of the Sri Lankan cricket team, prompting the team to heighten their security with several special convoys.

Instagram | Archived Link

Many of the mainstream Indian media and Pakistani media also used screenshots from this same video in their reports.

The Times of India | Archived Link NDTV | Archived Link

The scenes were widely circulated, as seen below.

Fact-Check:

When reviewing other international media reports regarding the video mentioned as high-level security provided by Pakistan to the Sri Lankan cricket team, we found that the video had not been used elsewhere. So we conducted a reverse image search on the keyframes of the video.

Our findings revealed that the video is actually from 2022, showing the security provided in Karachi for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) tournament. Pakistani media had reported this as the VVIP protocol for foreign cricket players.

In 2023 as well, the same video was shared, claiming it showed security provided to the Nepal cricket team.

On November 11, a suicide bombing occurred in Islamabad. Following this attack, which happened during the Sri Lankan team’s tour, Pakistan deployed the army and paramilitary forces to ensure their safety, according to the country’s Interior Minister.

After the bombing, Pakistan further strengthened the security of the Sri Lankan cricket team. Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir assured the Sri Lankan Defence Minister about the team’s security, as announced by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi during a live telecast in Parliament. Read more

The second ODI between Pakistan and Sri Lanka was held yesterday (14) at the Rawalpindi stadium, where the Sri Lankan team was provided with heavy security. Media reports highlighted the heightened security measures taken during this time.

Facebook

The suicide bombing near the Islamabad court complex on November 11 killed 12 people and injured many others.

Pakistan blamed the terrorist group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for the attack and also accused the Afghan government of allowing terrorism to operate from its soil.

Foreign cricket teams have previously faced similar threats during tours of Pakistan.

After the 2009 Lahore attack on the Sri Lankan team, international cricket in Pakistan was halted for almost a decade. Six players were injured, and Pakistan had to play home matches in the UAE for several years.

Pakistan won the second ODI against Sri Lanka by 8 wickets, securing a 2–0 series victory with one match remaining.

After completing the ODI series in Rawalpindi, Sri Lanka is scheduled to take part in a Tri-Nation T20 series with Pakistan and Zimbabwe starting on November 17.

Join us to learn about our investigative reporting.

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Google News | TikTok |Youtube

Conclusion:

Our investigation shows that the video shared as heightened security provided to the Sri Lankan cricket team following the recent suicide attack in Pakistan is actually from 2022, unrelated to the current situation.