Years-old video misrepresented as Pakistani police escort given to Sri Lanka cricket team

Published on December 12, 2025 at 06:42
Updated on December 12, 2025 at 07:08
2 min read
By Harshana SILVA, AFP Sri Lanka

Following a suicide bombing that killed 12 people in Islamabad on November 11, 2025, Pakistani authorities ramped up security for the Sri Lankan cricket team touring the South Asian nation. But visuals of a police escort circulating on social media predate the recent games played in Pakistan -- it was actually filmed during a 2022 tournament held under strict Covid protocols and security procedures.

"Special security for the Sri Lankan team in Pakistan," reads in part the Sinhala-language caption of a Facebook video on November 14, 2025.

The clip shows a convoy of police vehicles with Pakistan's national flag on their windscreens escorting white buses.

"We will provide maximum security we can in our country. Don't stop the tournament -- Pakistan Cricket Chairman," the caption reads on.

The Sri Lankan cricket team toured Pakistan in November for a one-day international (ODI) meet and the subsequent T20 tri-series (archived here and here). The host won both games, claiming the ODI series 3-0 and defeating Sri Lanka by six wickets at the T20.

Screenshot of the false Facebook post taken on December 11, with a red X added by AFP

The clip circulated in similar posts elsewhere on Facebook after at least eight Sri Lankan players asked to leave Pakistan over security fears following a suicide bombing in Islamabad on November 11 that killed 12 people and injured 27 (archived link).

Sri Lanka's cricket board confirmed two days later its players would stay in Pakistan to complete the cricket series, with all games to be played in Rawalpindi after Pakistan agreed to provide high-level security to the Sri Lankan team.

Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also said on the day that the government would provide the team with the same level of security given to official guests (archived link).

But the video does not show the security deployment given to Sri Lankan cricketers.

Footage from 2022

A Google reverse image search of keyframes from the clip, followed by a keyword search, found the same video uploaded on the YouTube channel of Pakistani media outlet Paktv on January 27, 2022 (archived link).

The video is captioned, "Foreign cricketers VVIP protocol in Pakistan."

"Pakistan super league is going to start from Thursday at Karachi. Here is the wonderful and amazing security protocol of teams and cricketers," reads the description of the video.

It was uploaded as the Pakistan Super League's (PSL) seventh edition started on the day, which was held under Covid-19 health protocols and tight security measures, according to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) (archived link).

While some foreign cricketers took part in the league that year, no Sri Lankan players were present, according to squad lists from the PCB (archived link).

Screenshot comparison of the false post (left) and YouTube clip with similarities highlighted in red by AFP

At the 2:09 mark of the video, a white building with the sign "National Stadium" can be seen, matching visuals on Google Street View imagery outside the National Stadium in Karachi -- over 1,100 kilometres (683 miles) away from Rawalpindi, where Sri Lanka played in the November 2025 fixtures (archived here and here).

Screenshot comparison of the false post (left) and Google Street View imagery with corresponding features highlighted by AFP

AFP has debunked other cricket-related misinformation.

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