CLAIM

Viral videos of spectators chanting slogans in favour of Imran Khan during PSL 11 final

RATING JUSTIFICATION

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

To reach this conclusion, iVerify Pakistan conducted reverse image and keyword searches to trace the original source.

Multiple peoples — most of them PTI supporters, based on past posts — were sharing videos on social media platforms X and TikTok since May 3, 2026, claiming to show spectators chanting slogans in favour of PTI founder Imran Khan during and after the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 final. However, the clips are doctored and old.

Peshawar Zalmi secured a five-wicket victory over Hyderabad Kingsmen in the final of the 11th edition of the PSL, securing their second title at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on May 3.

While the government had initially ordered the PSL matches to be played behind closed doors due to austerity measures and efforts to reduce fuel consumption, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved the presence of fans for the final following requests from Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and franchise owners.

As of early May 2026, Imran has completed 1,000 days in custody, a milestone marked by his party as a period of “political victimisation” and “unlawful detention”.

HOW IT STARTED

On May 4, a pro-PTI user, based on their past posts, shared a video of Naqvi walking alongside the boundary as people in the stands allegedly chanted, “Everyone’s companion, everyone’s friend, prisoner no. 804.”

“This is why fans are banned in the stadium,” reads the caption.

The post gained 230,000 views.

The same video was also shared by the PTI’s Jhelum Chapter on TikTok with the caption: “That’s why public stadiums are prohibited.”

The post garnered 1.7 million views and 172,000 likes.

Another X user, who appears to be a PTI supporter based on past posts, shared the same video with a similar caption. The post garnered 14,000 views.

The caption reads: “The public chanted ‘prisoner no 804’ right on Mohsin Naqvi’s face. Now it’s clear why they imposed a ban on crowds. Out of fear of Imran Khan, they’re destroying the entire country.”

Several other users on X shared the videos with similar claims, as seen here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Similarly, another video was doing the rounds on X, allegedly showing people chorusing in support of Imran in the presence of Naqvi and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

The clip, shared on X on May 3 by an account that appears to be pro-PTI, showed CM Maryam attending the PSL-11 final. The caption of the post reads: “For this reason, a ban was imposed on fans in the stadium during the PSL.”

It gained 43,800 views.

Other users shared the video with similar claims on YouTube and X, as can be seen here, here, and here.

A third video with a similar claim was also being shared on X since May 3, in which spectators at the Gaddafi Stadium can be seen engaging in a rallying cry in support of the PTI founder.

“Imran Khan had secured a three-fourths majority in the general election just like that. The PSL final echoed with chants for Prisoner Number 804, and now they even fear him more than the spectators,” reads the caption.

The post gained 18,700 views.

Another pro-PTI journalist shared the same video on X with the caption: “Acceptability still weighs heavier than acceptance today. The PSL final echoed with the chants of Prisoner Number 804.”

The post garnered 20,000 views.

Former MPA Saeed Afridi also shared the same video in a similar context and caption.

Multiple other pro-PTI accounts on X too shared the video with similar claims, as can be seen here, here, here, here, here, here, here, 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 Pakistan Super League and the PTI founder.

An audio-visual analysis of the first video revealed discrepancies; the audio and video of the clip were mismatched with unsynced lip movements and facial expressions that did not correspond with the audio.

A reverse image search conducted to trace the source of the video yielded a TikTok post dated May 2, 2026, wherein the same clip was shared by a fan page with the purpose of highlighting Naqvi’s work as per its bio.

The video predated the PSL final, which was held on May 3, and did not contain any pro-Imran slogans.

Furthermore, the big screen in the background shows Hunain Shah of Hyderabad Kingsman celebrating a win against Islamabad United, along with the scoreline of both teams.

A similar video sans the pro-PTI sloganeering was also shared by journalist Arfa Feroz Zaka, who is associated with Geo News Urdu, on X.

Similarly, a keyword search for the second video, which featured CM Maryam, did not yield any results. Instead, news reports showed she attended the PSL 11 opening at Gaddafi Stadium on March 26, 2026.

In the viral clip, she can be seen wearing the same attire that she wore on March 26.

A reverse image search yielded a TikTok video shared on March 8, 2026. The caption reads: “Everyone’s companion, everyone’s friend, prisoner no. 804. Peshawar Imran Khan Cricket Stadium”.

The individual chanting slogans in the viral video can be seen at the 2-second mark in the TikTok video.

Comparing the videos shows that the viral video featuring CM Maryam is from Gaddafi Stadium, while the part where the man was chanting slogans is from Imran Khan Stadium, Peshawar.

Moreover, the final match of PSL 2026 was covered by Al Jazeera, BBC News, The News International Pakistan, and The Sunday Guardian, none of which reported the chief minister attending the match.

A reverse image search for the third clip yielded a YouTube video dated February 17, 2024. It was posted by a channel named “Global King 360 Info”, which regularly posts cricket-related content on the social media platform. The video was titled: “Prisoner number 804 in a PSL match in Gaddafi Stadium.”

The search also yielded a Facebook video dated February 17, 2024, featuring the same visuals as seen in the viral clip, which again indicates that the latter predates the PSL 2026 final.

Additionally, a keyword search yielded a report by Editorji, an Indian video news platform, published on February 18, 2024, which included the same viral video. The report stated that chants referring to Imran Khan as “prisoner number 804” were raised during a PSL match between Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars at Gaddafi Stadium following the 2024 general elections.

A keyword search for the viral videos was conducted to verify whether any credible Pakistani or international media outlets had reported such an incident during the PSL 2026 final. However, it did not yield any results.

FACT-CHECK STATUS: FALSE

The claim that several viral videos show spectators chanting slogans in favour of Imran Khan at the PSL 2026 final is false.

The videos are old and doctored.

EVIDENCE AND REFERENCES

May 2, 2026, TikTok video:
https://www.tiktok.com/@mohsinnaqvipak786/video/7634997668363701512

May 2, 2026, X post:
https://x.com/ArfaSays_/status/2050480314343162192

Mar 8, 2026, TikTok video:
https://archive.md/yBzTd

Mar 26, 2026, The Nation news report:
https://www.nation.com.pk/26-Mar-2026/maryam-nawaz-attends-simple-opening-ceremony-hbl-psl-11

May 3, 2026, Al Jazeera news report:
https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/5/4/all-round-hero-hardie-helps-babar-azams-peshawar-zalmi-win-psl-2026

May 3, 2026, BBC news report:
https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/articles/cy523qwv9vpo

May 4, 2026, The News International Pakistan news report:
https://www.thenews.pk/print/1413670-zalmi-clinch-historic-psl-title-after-nine-year-wait

May 3, 2026, The Sunday Guardian news report:
https://sundayguardianlive.com/pz-vs-hyk-what-happens-if-it-rains-in-psl-2026-final-in-lahore-is-there-reserve-day-188485/

February 17, 2024, YouTube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBNFIQ8QjKM

February 17, 2024, Facebook video:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1183658126353592

February 18, 2024, Editorji report:
https://www.editorji.com/world-news/chants-for-qaidi-number-804-imran-khan-during-psl-match-1708236116053