Viral image shows burqa-clad Bangladeshi women players at ICC World Cup 2025

Rating Justification

The iVerify Pakistan team reviewed this content and determined that it is false.

To reach this conclusion, iVerify Pakistan analysed the image critically as well as used image manipulation tools to detect any tampering.

Posts from multiple users on social media platform X, since October 12, 2025, shared an image allegedly showing two Bangladeshi women cricket players clad in a burqa during the ICC World Cup 2025. However, the photo is fake and AI-generated.

The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 is currently underway, with matches being held in India and Sri Lanka. The 50-over tournament began on September 30, and the final clash is set for November 2.

On October 10, New Zealand won against Bangladesh with a 100-run triumph
and picked up their first win of the Women’s World Cup

HOW IT STARTED

On Oct 12, an X user shared an image of two burqa-clad women players standing on a pitch at a stadium said to be in Bangladesh. The caption of the post said: “Two cricketers from Bangladesh have shown the world that the veil is not a barrier, but a protection, and modesty is not a weakness, but a strength.

“The Bangladeshi player is playing cricket while dressed in an Islamic manner. MashaAllah.”

The post racked up 317,000 views, 7,300 likes and was reshared about 1,000 times.

Another user, whose X bio describes him as anti-Islam, shared the same photo with the same claim. “Women cricket tournament in Bangladesh,” the caption said. The post gathered 661,300 views, 10,000 likes and 1,400 shares.

Other X users also quickly shared the image with a similar claim, with some also expressing disbelief, as seen here, here, here, here and here, accumulating 39,781 views.

The photo was also shared on other social media platforms, TikTok and Facebook, as seen here, here and here.

METHODOLOGY

A fact-check was initiated to determine the veracity of the claim due to its virality and keen public interest in the ongoing Women’s World Cup.

Observing the image closely revealed visual inconsistencies. Firstly, the bat in the photo can be seen standing upright without any support, with only half of it visible. Moreover, the fabric of the burqa does not show realistic folds or creases in areas of movement, such as the batter’s arms or legs. Rather, it appears smooth and flat despite supposed motion or wind.

Another major inconsistency is that the bodies of the burqa-clad women look subtly distorted, particularly the woman gesturing on the left, whose forearm angle doesn’t connect naturally to the shoulder.

Analysing the image through verification tools for potential tampering and AI-generation showed that Fake Image Detector gave the photo a 61 per cent authenticity score, which means that it had a moderate likelihood of manipulation or AI generation, while AI or Not flagged it as likely AI-generated.

Furthermore, a diamond shape is visible at the bottom right of the image, which is similar to Gemini, Google’s AI assistant.

A keyword search also did not yield any results of the photo being shared by credible local or international media outlets. More so, none of the photos from the Oct 10 New Zealand-Bangladesh fixture showed any player in a burqa. They were also dressed in their team jerseys, as can be seen below.

FACT-CHECK STATUS: FALSE

The claim that a viral image shows Bangladeshi women cricket players clad in burqa is fake.

The image is generated through AI.

Evidence and References

AFP photo, ESPN Cricinfo: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-women-s-world-cup-2025-26-1478193/bangladesh-women-vs-new-zealand-women-11th-match-1490423/match-report

ICC photo, ESPN Cricinfo: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-women-s-world-cup-2025-26-1478193/bangladesh-women-vs-new-zealand-women-11th-match-1490423/match-report

AP photo, Outlook: https://www.outlookindia.com/sports/cricket/new-zealand-vs-bangladesh-live-streaming-icc-womens-world-cup-2025-nz-w-vs-ban-w-guwahati