Iftikhar Ahmed has called out a fake viral quote, attributed to him, saying that “no professional cricketer will make such a statement”.

Nawaz, a verified X user with over 20,000 followers, posted a picture of Iftikhar in action for Pakistan against India, along with the ‘quote’, “Whenever we have match against India it feels like we are playing street children’s. [sic]”

The post was shared widely and viewed nearly half a million times, with the quote also circulated by certain cricket fan pages and social media outlets.

Iftikhar has called out the post as “fake news”, with the offending post deleted since Iftikhar’s message. “I’ve been made aware of this statement which I’ve never made,” he said. “In fact, no professional cricketer will make such a statement. Please stop circulating false news & report this individual for spreading hate.”

I’ve been made aware of this statement which I’ve never made. In fact, no professional cricketer will make such a statement. Please stop circulating false news & report this individual for spreading hate.@X @elonmusk please ban this account as people are misusing the blue tick. https://t.co/dmgDEfM9jp pic.twitter.com/fExqNRa9Zk

— Iftikhar Ahmad (@IftiMania) August 16, 2023

He also called on X owner Elon Musk to “please ban this account as people are misusing the blue tick.”

Iftikhar has developed a reputation as one of Pakistan’s most popular cricketers, with his astonishing feats of big hitting seeing ‘Ifti-mania’ sweep the nation.

Iftikhar is not the first cricketing figure to have to call out a misattributed quote, with Nasser Hussain also on the receiving end of an anti-India quote following a Pakistan-India clash.