Amid reports of an “internal rift” within the Pakistan cricket team, the team’s captain, Babar Azam, along with Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi, delivered a strong message of unity. During the Afghanistan match, these three players were seen together in the dugout, dispelling rumors of discord among senior players.
Speculation had emerged on social media, suggesting that some team members had engaged in heated exchanges due to the team’s recent poor performance, including three consecutive losses.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has firmly denied these rumors, affirming that the team remains cohesive and that there is no credible evidence to support such claims. The PCB expressed disappointment over the spread of false news and emphasized the importance of upholding journalistic ethics before disseminating such allegations.
The Pakistan cricket team has faced scrutiny after defeats to India, Australia, and Afghanistan, which have jeopardized their World Cup 2023 campaign. Following the loss to Afghanistan, Babar Azam expressed his disappointment in a post-match press conference and his intention for the team to learn from the defeat. Afghanistan achieved their first-ever one-day victory over Pakistan by successfully chasing down a 283-run target with an over to spare.
Azam, who scored 74 runs off 95 balls, and opener Abdullah Shafique, who contributed 58, guided Pakistan to a total of 282-7 after winning the toss and choosing to bat. Azam acknowledged that while they met their batting goals, they fell short in bowling and fielding, giving up 17 boundaries in the first 16 overs. He commended Afghanistan for their victory and stressed the need for improvement in the upcoming matches.
