Fake news and rumours about the demise of popular celebrities proliferate quickly through social media platforms and recently a similar instance took place, which claims the demise of Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya. Later, the cricketer himself clarified that the speculations are all fake and avoid sharing it.
On Monday morning, the news of batting great Sanath Jayasuriya’s demise spread like a wildfire and found a lot of steam on social media and messaging portals. The reports had claimed that the cricketer was in Toronto, Canada on May 20 and met with an accident there. ‘A man was hit by a Honda Civic car died in the hospital and they had identified him as Sanath Jayasuriya,’ it stated as quoted by CricTracker.
‘He was severely injured when taken to the hospital and while being treated for it passed away the next morning. It further went on to say that the same was confirmed by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Canada, in fact, also mentioned that the Embassy was aware of Jayasuriya’s visit to Toronto,’ the fake news mentioned.
As it turns out the news was indeed fake and Sanath himself has put out a statement rubbishing the rumours.
The news also took Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin by surprise as he asked the truth behind the speculations to his 9.45 million followers on Twitter.
“Is the news on Sanath Jayasuriya true?? I got a news update on what’s app but see nothing here on Twitter,” enquired Ashwin on Twitter.
Is the news on Sanath Jayasuriya true?? I got a news update on what’s app but see nothing here on Twitter!!
— Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) May 27, 2019
While Sanath Jayasuriya on May 21 tweeted, “Please disregard fake news by malicious websites regarding my health and well being. I am in Srilanka and have not visited Canada recently. Please avoid sharing fake news.”
Please disregard fake news by malicious websites regarding my health and well being.
I am in Srilanka and have not visited Canada recently.Please avoid sharing fake news.— Sanath Jayasuriya (@Sanath07) May 21, 2019
Earlier this year, Jayasuriya was banned for two years from all cricket-related activity by the ICC’s anti-corruption unit. The former Sri Lanka captain was punished for refusing to co-operate with investigations concerning corruption in the country.
