Recent reports suggested that Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, and star fast bowler, Shaheen Afridi, engaged in a heated exchange during the Asia Cup 2023’s Super 4 stage, raising concerns about team dynamics. Allegedly, Babar questioned the roles of senior players in the tournament, but Shaheen Afridi responded, urging him not to generalize and not to criticize those who performed well. Babar countered, emphasizing that he was well aware of who was performing and who was not.
Additional reports indicated that after the team’s exit from the Asia Cup, Babar did not interact with anyone on his way to the hotel after the press conference. However, Cricket Pakistan published a report that refuted the rumors of a verbal altercation between Babar and Shaheen.
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According to an unnamed senior player from the team, the primary focus of the team is on cricket, and they are not concerned about critics. The player emphasized that losing a match provides an opportunity for critics to voice their opinions, but these are merely negative speculations.
Shahid Afridi suggested removing Babar Azam & appointing Shaheen Afridi as captain? 👀
— Sushant Mehta (@SushantNMehta) September 18, 2023
The player clarified that a team meeting did take place after their exit from the Asia Cup, during which constructive discussions occurred. Contrary to the rumors of a verbal altercation and the coaching staff needing to intervene, the player stated that everyone left the meeting together, and many teammates traveled back to Pakistan on the same flight.
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As Pakistan prepares for the upcoming World Cup, they are expected to announce their squad in the coming week. This decision will follow a meeting between Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq, captain Babar Azam, and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Zaka Ashraf. The selection process will play a crucial role in determining the composition of the squad that will represent Pakistan in the prestigious tournament.
