SYDNEY: A strange image circulating on social media recently claimed that Australian cricket star Ellyse Perry proposed to Pakistan’s Babar Azam by going down on one knee in front of a crowd.
The picture spread rapidly across platforms and quickly grabbed attention, particularly among cricket fans in Pakistan.
The image showed Perry kneeling with a ring in her hand while Babar appeared to smile in surprise, giving the impression of a public proposal.
As the photo gained massive traction, fans began speculating about a possible personal connection between the two international cricketers. But the big question remained: was the image genuine?
Reality behind the viral image
A closer look revealed that the image was not real. Several visual inconsistencies made it clear that the picture was created using artificial intelligence.
The lighting on faces appeared unnatural, the crowd in the background looked mismatched, and Perry’s facial features were noticeably pixelated, all of which pointed toward digital manipulation.
Adding to this, the image did not align with real-world timelines. When the photo went viral, Ellyse Perry was not even in Australia. She was in New Zealand, actively participating in the Super Smash tournament, making the scenario shown in the image impossible.
Both players were in different countries
At the time, Perry was representing Wellington Women in Super Smash, while Babar Azam was playing in the Big Bash League (BBL) 2025–26 for the Sydney Sixers.
Their schedules and locations alone confirmed that the viral image had no basis in reality.
Perry was initially named in the squad for WPL 2026, where she was set to play for Royal Challengers Bangalore, but she later withdrew due to personal reasons.
Meanwhile, Babar joined the BBL with the aim of regaining form in the T20 format ahead of the upcoming World Cup.
Babar Azam’s struggles in the BBL
Babar’s stint with the Sydney Sixers has not gone as planned. The franchise expected consistent performances from the Pakistani batter, but concerns emerged early in the tournament over his strike rate.
In eight matches, Babar has scored 154 runs, including two half-centuries. However, his strike rate stands at 104.05, which has been among the lowest in the competition.
Despite repeated calls to improve his scoring speed, Babar has struggled to adapt, and the issue continues to overshadow his performances in the league.
In conclusion, the viral proposal image was entirely AI-generated, and there is no truth to the claim that Ellyse Perry proposed to Babar Azam.
