'For a moment, I was worried' - Babar Azam opens up on viral AI-generated voice clips on social media

In the lead-up to the ICC World Cup 2023, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam found himself at the recieving end advanced artificial intelligence technology as videos featuring his AI-generated voice have proliferated across social media platforms, with some even morphing his images into captivating video content.

In a rather surreal twist, the 28-year-old's AI-created voice has even lent itself to rendering Bollywood songs. The Pakistan captain expressed astonishment when asked about the same at a press conference in Lahore before the team is set leave for India for World Cup 2023. "For a moment, I was worried after hearing my AI-created voice, and I was like, how did they get my voice?" he said.

Pakistan's visa issues resolved moments before India departure 

The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed that the Indian government had granted visas to the Pakistan team members, with the approval coming less than 48 hours before their departure to India as they are set to depart for Hyderabad via Dubai. The delayed visas prompted the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to convey their written displeasure to the ICC, especially given that the visas had not been granted at the time of their communication.

The PCB raised questions regarding whether the delay in providing visas might constitute a breach of the hosting agreement for the World Cup. As a result, Pakistan will travel to Dubai in the early hours of Wednesday, September 27, with a transit in Dubai before proceeding to Hyderabad later that same day instead of their older plan of conducting a week-long team bonding excercise in Dubai. Their first warm-up game, against New Zealand, is scheduled for Friday in Hyderabad, which will be played behind closed doors.