Ex-Sri Lanka cricket captain Mahela Jayawardena has warned the public against fake AI-generated advertisements misusing his name and image.

His warning comes after his colleague former skipper Kumar Sangakkara too had issued a similar warning previously of his own image being fraudulently used to publicise certain commercial brands.

In a social media post, Jayawardena clarified that all genuine endorsements and partnerships will only be announced through his verified platforms. “I haven’t shared it as well, take no heed!” he stated.

This comes amid an increasing trend of AI-manipulated ads falsely featuring well-known personalities. 

Several celebrities and public figures globally have recently issued similar warnings after their names and faces were used in deceptive promotional content. He thus urged his followers to be wary and avoid engaging with or sharing such content.

Jayawardena who is set to turn 48 on Tuesday (27), scored in excess of 25.000 runs across the three formats of the game, during a career which spanned from 1997 to 2015.