A video of the Pakistan women’s cricket team members spraying something into the air is being circulated on social media with varied claims. Some users allege that Pakistan cricketers sprayed air fresheners before the Indian team took to the field. Others claim that it was intended to mock the Indian players, implying that they stink. Some went to suggest that Pakistan cricketers had sprayed some intoxicant or sedative used to make Indian cricketers feel dizzy on the ground.
The video is from the ICC women’s cricket World Cup (CWC) match held on October 5, 2025, between Indian and Pakistan at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where India defeated Pakistan by 88 runs.
An X account, Jeff Epstein (@JeffreyxEpstein), shared the video claiming that the Pakistani players were spraying air fresheners before the Indian players entered the field. (Archive)
Pakistani Players used an air freshener spray before INDIANS stepped on the ground 😂 pic.twitter.com/q0qboWhc2A
— Jeff Epstein (@JeffreyxEpstein) October 5, 2025
The account is a parody account named after American financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The post has garnered around 570,200 views.
Another X-handle, Jayroo (@jayroo69), shared the purported video clip and called the Pakistan women’s cricket team ‘savage’ for mocking the Indian players. (Archive)
The savage Pakistani Women’s Cricket team spraying air freshener before their Indian opponents come out 💀💀💀💀 pic.twitter.com/iimTaCxcLr
— Jayroo (@jayroo69) October 6, 2025
Another X user, Aditya (@Wxtreme10), shared the video clip and accused Pakistan’s women cricketers of spraying ‘drugs’ to make the Indian cricketers feel dizzy during the match. (Archive)
The post has received approximately 400,000 views.
Several social media users have echoed similar claims as mentioned above. Some of these can be seen in the gallery below:
Fact Check
A simple keyword search led us to multiple news reports that stated that swarms of insects had invaded the field during the match, halting the game briefly. Reports said Pakistan women’s cricket team captain Fatima Sana had been seen waging a “lone battle” against the bugs with spray with the intention of pest control.
According to ESPNCricinfo, the insects were likely a variety of winged termites that are attracted to the stadium floodlights. The bugs reportedly began to appear roughly 20 overs into the Indian innings. All the players on the field were affected by the bugs. Pakistan bowler Nashra Sandhu was most affected as a bug entered her eyes.
About five balls into the 28th over, Sandhu and Fatima Sana called for what appeared to be a bug repellent spray and sprayed it on their clothes and creases. During this time, Sana sprayed it, directing it to the swarms of bugs near them. But it wasn’t of much help. After 34 overs, the game was halted, and the entire play area was fumigated with anti-insect smoke. And the game resumed thereafter.
We looked at the ESPNCricinfo website and found several photographs from the game that clearly captured the swarm of insects and the process of fumigation.
To sum up, the Pakistan women’s cricket team captain, Fatima Sana, and other teammates were spraying anti-insect spray during the CWC game against India. All the other claims are baseless and false.
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