Claim

Shoaib Akhtar has been seen with Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives, and Indian cricket legends like Gavaskar, Tendulkar, Kapil Dev and Ganguly should publicly speak out against him and Shahid Afridi.

“Sunil Gavarskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, Saurav Ganguly should issue statements against Shoaib Akhtar, who is seen with all the Laskarayat-toy-ba operatives. They should speak against Shahid Afridi.”

Rationale

A real, documented event underlies the claim: figures tied to Lashkar-e-Taiba / the PMML front (including Pahalgam-attack accused Saifullah Kasuri and Hafiz Saeed's son Talha Saeed) attended the June 2026 funeral of Shoaib Akhtar's brother Shahid in Islamabad. However, the claim that 'Shoaib Akhtar has been seen with Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives' misleadingly recasts their attendance at a public funeral as Shoaib personally associating with them. Reporting explicitly states there is no evidence Shoaib was photographed alongside these operatives, invited them, or has any link to LeT. The accompanying call for Gavaskar, Tendulkar, Kapil Dev and Ganguly to issue statements is opinion/exhortation, not a verifiable factual claim.

Evidence

• https://www.theweek.in/news/world/2026/06/27/shoaib-aktar-under-fire-for-having-lashkar-terror-proxies-at-brothers-funeral-in-pakistan.html Reports that LeT/PMML-linked figures (Talha Saeed, Saifullah Kasuri) attended the funeral of Shoaib Akhtar's brother, but states there is no evidence Shoaib himself was photographed with them or has direct links to the group; backlash is about who attended, not accusations against Shoaib personally. pending audit
• https://ianslive.in/lashkar-terrorist-including-deputy-chief-saifullah-kasuri-attend-funeral-of-shoaib-akhtars-brother-in-islamabad--20260627125207 IANS wire report confirming LeT deputy chief Saifullah Kasuri and other LeT-linked leaders were seen attending the funeral of Shahid Akhtar (Shoaib's brother) in Islamabad on/around June 24-27, 2026. pending audit
• https://www.dnaindia.com/explainer/report-shoaib-akhtar-brother-funeral-row-pmml-pakistan-markazi-muslim-league-let-3214537 Explainer notes it is not known whether Shoaib Akhtar or his late brother had any membership or link to PMML/LeT, or knew any of the individuals present; cannot be said Shoaib has any terror link. pending audit