(Image source: X.com/@ICC)
[Saba Sports News] After Pakistan’s unexpected exit from the Asia Cup 2023, reports surfaced, suggesting division in their dressing room. It was reported that following their loss to Sri Lanka in the Super Four match of the recent-concluded Asia Cup, Pakistan captain Babar Azam and pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi engaged in a verbal altercation inside the dressing room.
Babar, who was delivering a post-match speech inside the dressing room after the loss to Sri Lanka, expressed his disappointment, stating that the players were not playing responsibly.
During the speech, Shaheen Afridi interrupted Babar, suggesting that he should at least acknowledge those who performed well. The skipper did not take kindly to the interruption, responding, “I know who’s performing well and who’s not.” The argument escalated, and the Pakistan wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan had to step in to defuse the situation.
However, a senior Pakistan team member dismissed the reports of the argument between Babar and Shaheen, stating that “there is no truth to the rumors.”
“The team’s sole focus is on cricket, and we are not concerned about the critics. Losing a match gives our critics an opportunity to voice their opinions, but these are merely negative speculations,” the senior player stated, as reported by Cricket Pakistan.
“In the team meeting, everyone shared their thoughts, but there is no truth to the rumors of a verbal altercation or the coaching staff needing to intervene. Everyone left the meeting together, and many teammates travelled back to Pakistan on the same flight,” he concluded.