The Pakistan cricket legend Shahid Afridi found himself at the center of controversy after he was photographed with members of the pro-Israel group North West Friends of Israel. The group claimed Afridi had offered his endorsement and support in Manchester last Sunday. However, Afridi refuted these claims on Wednesday, June 19, stating that he had not actually endorsed the group or their activities.

Afridi promptly issued a statement clarifying that he had been approached for a selfie, which he obliged. He then rejected the claims made by the group and expressed his concern over the situation in Palestine.

“I was walking casually on a street in Manchester, UK, and so-called fans request you for a selfie. You consent, only to discover moments later that they have uploaded the photo, falsely presenting it as a Zionist endorsement. This deceptive act is truly unbelievable. The lesson here is to be cautious and not automatically believe everything that is posted online,” stated Afridi.

“The suffering of innocent lives in Palestine is deeply distressing. Therefore, any photo or statement I have shared does not indicate support for any situation that endangers human lives,” he added.

Afridi claimed that “this incident was common” from the many occasions he takes photos with supporters across the world.

“I pray for harmony, I pray that the war ends, I pray for liberty,” he added.

In a new tweet, the group has responded to Afridi’s actions, providing their account of what transpired. They state that Afridi approached them while wearing a mask, and the group initially did not recognize him. Afridi then approached a member distributing leaflets, removed his mask, and requested to take pictures with the main group.

Afridi willingly agreed to be photographed holding campaign leaflets, according to the group. They said he knowingly and voluntarily offered his support for their cause.

The Israeli military offensive against Hamas in the Palestinian territories, launched on October 17 following an attack by the Palestinian group on Israel, has resulted in over 37,000 Palestinian fatalities. Conversely, the Hamas attack on Israel has claimed close to 1,200 lives.