Fact Check: Did Rajeev Shukla say ICC prioritised cricket after BCCI’s repeated requests to Pakistan?

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla has denied claims that he welcomed Pakistan’s decision to play against India in the T20 World Cup 2026. His clarification came after a Pakistani news channel aired an audio clip that was said to feature his reaction to Pakistan’s change of stance.

Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had indicated it might boycott the high-profile India vs Pakistan match scheduled for February 15 in Colombo. However, the PCB later reversed its decision.

Pakistan shared Rajeev Shukla's AI-generated audio

During a cricket talk show on ARY News, anchor Shoaib Malik introduced what he claimed was an audio clip of Shukla reacting to Pakistan’s U-turn. In the clip, a voice similar to Shukla’s could be heard saying that he was pleased with the outcome of discussions and that it was a good and amicable solution that put cricket first.

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“I would like to show you a clip of BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla," Malik is heard saying before playing the questionable audio.

In the clip, a voice (poorly) resembling Shukla’s says: “I am delighted to see the outcome of the deliberations initiated by the ICC representative on the repeated requests by BCCI to convince Pakistan to play against India. It’s a good solution, amicable solution which has been found to give priority to cricket, important to the game. This is what has been done."

Rajeev Shukla on his fake audio clip

Soon after the clip spread on social media, Shukla strongly denied the claims. He said the audio had been manipulated using artificial intelligence and that the statements were not his.

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Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Shukla wrote that the video had been altered to change the audio. He urged people not to believe or share the misleading content and asked them to report such videos wherever they appear.

"A video of my remarks on the India-Pakistan World Cup match has been manipulated using AI to alter the audio. These statements are not mine. I urge everyone not to believe or circulate this misleading content and to report it wherever such videos are seen" wrote Rajeev Shukla.

What Rajeev Shukla actually said?

However, in the original clip Rajeev Shukla thanked the ICC chairman (Jay Shah) and its office-bearers on behalf of the BCCI for finding a very good solution. He also added that this decision is very important for cricket. Cricket must go on, and the World Cup will now be a big success. Notably, he has not mentioned that the BCCI requested the cricketing governing council to convince Pakistan to play against India.