Published: Nov 30, 2017, 10:46 AM (IST)
Edited: Nov 30, 2017, 10:46 AM (IST)
The news of Umar Akmal‘s death was doing round in social media and the cricketer had to come up with a video to announce he was “not dead”. Umar is controversial. He is unintentionally hilarious and that makes him bait for the trolls. Poking fun, making memes in a good-hearted way is fine. But sometimes the online world can be ruthless and heartless. Umar, 27, became a victim of fake news, courtesy sick trolls. There were morphed images of the Pakistani cricketer, showing him dead during the recent riots in Islamabad.
Armed forces took action against the protests organised by religious groups and the incident claimed 6 lives and Umar was believed to be one of them. Umar used social media to assure his fans that he is fine and also taking part in the National T20 Cup.
The rumoured image
New post (Umar Akmal declared dead on social media, Pakistani cricketer assures fans …) has been published on – https://t.co/piib7uXS4f pic.twitter.com/3BaUgR5RuX
— VisionMp (@VisionMpbhopal) November 29, 2017
Akmal announces
Allhamdulillah I am safe n perfectly fine in Lahore all news coming from social media is fake
And Insha Allah I will join #National20cup2017 #Semifinale— Umar Akmal (@Umar96Akmal) November 27, 2017
— Umar Akmal (@Umar96Akmal) November 28, 2017
Umar played the semi-final as promised, and slammed a run-a-ball 35 not out to help Lahore Whites’ to a 10-wicket win over Faisalabad on Wednesday. He will also appear in the final on Thursday.
[link-to-post url=”https://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/rumour-about-shahid-afridis-daughter-it-is-time-we-show-some-responsibility-438691″]
The controversial Pakistani cricketer has been involved in a tiff with national coach Mickey Arthur. He is currently out of the national side and the PCB found him guilty of breaching three clauses of the player’s code of conduct.
Author’s take
Umar is a character, no doubt. Going through his Twitter timelines can cure depressions. Even the video has been met with hilarious responses. Trolling dearly is one bit but sprinting over the limit-line leaves a bad taste. The death hoax certainly does. It is basic sensitivity. The unfortunate incident in Islamabad should not be a subject of joke; neither should be the hoax of a public figure’s death.
While social media has lifted communication to a different echelon, it also comes with its dark side. Evils are no less, and it has clutched the world tight, the last thing the responsible citizens can do is refrain from such acts.
Long live, Umar. RIP, insensitive trolls.
