Former cricketer Virender Sehwag has clarified that he is not linked with a web site promoting NFTs made up of “original copyrighted cricket player art”. An NFT or a non-fungible token is a digital asset that represents true-world objects like text, artwork or music and records their ownership with the assist of blockchain. NFTs exploded in reputation earlier this year, as speculators and crypto enthusiasts flocked to acquire the new sort of asset, which represents ownership of on line-only products such as digital art, trading cards and land in on line worlds, according to news agency Reuters.
On Thursday, a Twitter user asked Virender Sehwag on Twitter if he is linked with Hashcards, a web site promoting digital cards with the cricketer’s likeness on them. Responding to the user, Sehwag clarified that he is not linked with the NFTs getting sold on the web site.
“Hey @virendersehwag is this your official NFT? People are buying assuming it is official. Their homepage says ‘original copyrighted cricket player art’,” the Twitter user asked, sharing a hyperlink to the web site which leads to digital Hashcards with Sehwag’s artwork on them.
“Not associated with these guys,” Sehwag responded, calling the use of his name illegal and unauthorised. “A clear case of FRAUD – unauthorised and illegal usage. Dukaan band karani padegi inki (will have to shut down their business),” he wrote.
Not linked with these guys
A clear case of FRAUD – unauthorised and illegal usage. Dukaan band karani padegi inki https://t.co/MZzdXESWi3— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 12, 2021
According to their web site, Hashcards are a collection of 2100 NFTs made up of “original copyrighted cricket player art, motion design, as well as traits and meta-data that differentiate the NFTs from each other.”
For 2021, the enterprise released Hashcards based on one hundred iconic cricket players, such as Sehwag. Each of the one hundred cricket players has 21 Hashcards across 3 diverse kinds indicating scarcity – Unique (1 NFT per player), Super Rare (7 NFTs per player), and Rare (13 NFTs per player).
Virender Sehwag’s tweet calling out Hashcards, meanwhile, has been amplified by a quantity of persons on Twitter.
“NFT investors have criticized hashcards for announcing Cricket NFTs, but selling unofficial caricatures,” wrote one Twitter user.
NFT investors have criticized hashcards for announcing Cricket NFTs, but promoting unofficial caricatures. It is believed that the gaming enterprise has hired Sundar Raman, who faced match-fixing allegations in the previous. Cricket fans be cautious of such projects https://t.co/fhBTezTdPL
— Rajasekar (@sekartweets) August 12, 2021
“Hashcards should issue a clarification on the NFT issue,” a further stated.
Hashcards should really challenge a clarification on the NFT challenge rather than playing hide and seek. The silence is providing rise to more doubts! https://t.co/En4tExkxgE
— Kaushik LM (@LMKMovieManiac) August 12, 2021
A fan pointed out that the Hashcards do not use the names of any cricketer to stay clear of copyright troubles.
Sir its an art with no true name pointed out of the players. Smart move by the web site as there is no case of copyright infringement. Just like video games use equivalent names but not precise names to stay clear of any copyright troubles. pic.twitter.com/lxaNLuty0n
— Mahade (@prawzd) August 12, 2021
Meanwhile, Bangladeshi cricketer Shakib Al Hasan also took to Twitter to contact out Hashcards, urging his fans not to acquire from them. “I have not authorised these guys to use my image or name to promote or sell their cards through NFT,” he wrote.
I have not authorised these guys to use my image or name to market or sell their cards by means of NFT. This is FRAUD, please do not acquire from them. I will be announcing my official NFT quickly. https://t.co/Q2Q75jehsW
— Shakib Al Hasan (@Sah75official) August 12, 2021
Recently, a viral post-turned-meme from Pakistan was auctioned off as an NFT on the occasion of Friendship Day for a whopping $51,530 (roughly Rs. 38 lakhs).