Video doesn't show IUML volunteers wearing Pakistan cricket jerseys in Kerala

What is the claim?

Several social media users are sharing a video, claiming it shows people wearing Pakistan national cricket team jerseys during the inauguration of the Indian Union Muslim League's (IUML) office in Arangadi village, Kasaragod district, Kerala. The video features people shouting slogans praising Panakkad Shihab Thangal, a prominent community leader in Kerala.

One X (formerly Twitter) user who shared this video captioned it, "The League (IUML) office in Kasargod was inaugurated by wearing Pakistani cricket team's jersey (translated from Malayalam)."

Social media users claim that the people in Kerala are wearing Pakistani cricket jerseys. (Source: X/ Modified by Logically Facts)

Another post garnered over 53,000 views, stating: "Not in Islamabad, Not in Peshawar!! In Kasargod, Kerala, Peaceful people are celebrating the opening of the Muslim League office by wearing Pakistan's cricket team jerseys.!!🤬#Kerala #KeralaStory #Peaceful #Pakistan #KeralaNews.” Archived versions of these claims can be found here, here, and here.

However, upon investigation, we found that the green jerseys seen in the video carry the Muslim League logo and 'Arangadi,' the name of the place in Kerala, written on them and are unrelated to the Pakistani cricket team.

What are the facts?

We began our investigation by comparing the jerseys in the alleged video to the official jersey of the Pakistan national cricket team, which is available on the merchandise page of the Pakistan Cricket Board's official website.

Examining the jersey named 'Matrix', revealed for the recently concluded 2024 T20 World Cup, we found that it features the ICC logo and reads T20 on the top left. The jersey has dark green geometric shapes, with 'Pakistan' written prominently in English at the center, along with a large golden star containing 'Pakistan' written in Urdu. The sponsors' names are displayed on the arms of the jersey. Additionally, the back of this jersey bears a small Pakistani national flag, along with the player's name. 

Official jersey of Pakistan for the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup. (Source: PCB/Modified by Logically Facts)

We also examined the Pakistani cricket team's ODI (One Day International) jersey and found it to be nearly identical to their T20 kit, except that it does not have the T20 World Cup 2024 logo but instead features the sponsors' names and logos on the front side.

In contrast, the jerseys seen in the viral video, though green, have 'Arangadi' written in English on the front and a crescent moon and star on the top right side, unlike the Pakistani jersey (archived here). This can be seen in the image below.

 A screenshot from the viral video (Source: X/ Modified by Logically Facts)

Using relevant keywords, we found a Facebook page called 'Pachapada Arangadi' (translated from Malayalam: പച്ചപ്പട ആറങ്ങാടി), where several clearer videos (archived here and here) of the same jersey and a gathering in front of the same office building were posted (archived here) on June 29, 2024. 

Upon careful examination of these visuals, we noted that the arms of the jersey clearly display the words 'MYL' (Muslim Youth League) and 'IUML' (Indian Union Muslim League). The front side of this jersey bears the logo of the party, which matches the profile picture of the 'Pachapada Arangadi' Facebook page. All these elements matched those seen in the jerseys in the viral video.

 Screenshots of the posts from the Facebook page. (Source: Facebook: Pachapada Arangadi/Modified by Logically Facts)

The jersey also carries text in Malayalam, the primary language spoken in Kerala, on the back. The first line roughly translates to 'Green Group' or 'Green Army', while the second line specifies the location 'Arangadi', the area in Kasaragod, Kerala. The IUML flag can also be seen at the top center of the jersey.

 Screenshots of the posts on the Facebook page. (Source: Facebook: Pachapada Arangadi/Modified by Logically Facts)

What did IUML say?

Mohammad Arshad, National General Secretary of the Muslim League, Muslim Students Federation, confirmed to Logically Facts that the people outside the Muslim League office are not wearing Pakistani jerseys. He said, "The Muslim League logo can be clearly seen on the jersey, which is completely different from the Pakistani flag."

Siddiq Master, Headquarters Secretary for IUML in Kerala state, said, "The gathering happened at the inaugural function of the Arangadi branch of the Muslim League office in Kanjagad in the Kasaragod district of Kerala a few days ago." He further stated that the volunteers were singing a song praising the leader of IUML, Syed Muhammad Ali Shihab Thangal.

The verdict

The viral video circulating on social media, which claims to depict people wearing Pakistani cricket team jerseys at an event at the IUML office in Kerala, is false. The jersey is designed for the volunteers of the Arangadi Muslim Youth League.