In early October 2025, social media platforms were flooded with a striking image: two Bangladeshi women cricketers, supposedly from the national team, dressed in full black burkhas while batting in an international match. The photo appeared authentic — the pitch looked real, the uniforms seemed fitting, and the caption claimed it was from the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. Within hours, the image had gone viral, sparking heated discussions about modesty, faith, and women’s participation in sports.
But as fact-checkers soon revealed, the picture was not a moment of cultural pride or defiance — it was a fabrication, born from artificial intelligence.
The Image That Shook the Cricketing World
The viral post circulated on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and WhatsApp with captions praising the players’ devotion and modesty. “Two Bangladeshi cricketers have shown the world that the veil is not a barrier to success,” read one viral message. Many users shared it with admiration; others mocked it as a symbol of regression.
What made the image convincing was timing. Bangladesh had indeed played New Zealand at the Women’s World Cup in Guwahati around the same time. Real players’ names — Rubaiya Haider Jhelik and Sharmin Akhter Supta — appeared in the fabricated scorecard. This clever blending of fact and fiction gave the post a sense of credibility that fooled even seasoned viewers.
The Truth Behind the Photo
When journalists and fact-checkers began investigating, cracks in the story emerged quickly. Official match photos and broadcast footage showed the Bangladeshi team wearing their standard red-and-green uniforms, not burkhas. The Bangladesh Cricket Board and ICC made no mention of any dress code change.
Closer examination of the viral image revealed telltale signs of AI generation. The folds of the fabric looked unnatural, the shadows mismatched the lighting, and parts of the players’ gear appeared warped or blended into the clothing. Even more revealing, the image carried a small watermark from Google’s AI tool “Gemini” — proof that it had been digitally created.
Several fact-checking outlets, including India Today, Factly, and The Quint, used detection software to confirm that the image was AI-generated. There were no photos, reports, or eyewitnesses to support the viral claim. The truth was clear: the so-called “burkha-clad cricketers” never existed.
Why People Believed It
The hoax worked because it struck an emotional chord. For many, the idea of women playing international cricket while observing full Islamic dress was powerful — it represented faith and resilience. For others, it became a flashpoint for debates on religion, gender, and modernity.
In today’s digital environment, emotional impact often outweighs logic. A visually dramatic image travels faster than a written correction. The post’s realism — combined with genuine match context and familiar player names — helped it bypass skepticism. By the time the truth emerged, millions had already shared and reacted to the fake.
