Pakistan Cricket squad unites to silence discord rumours

WEB DESK: Pakistan’s cricket team captain Babar Azam along with Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi have sent a strong message of unity amidst reports of an “internal rift” in the team.

According to Daily Jang, the three players were present in the dugout as the Afghanistan match commenced. Shaheen and Rizwan were seated to the right and left of Babar, showcasing their unity and dispelling rumors of discord among the senior players.

Speculation had arisen on social media, with claims that some squad members exchanged heated words due to the team’s recent poor performance, including three consecutive losses.

Meanwhile, The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has strongly refuted the rumors, stating that the team remains cohesive, and there is no substantiated evidence to support these claims.

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The PCB expressed disappointment over the dissemination of false news and underscored the importance of upholding journalistic ethics before spreading such allegations.

The Pakistan cricket team is under scrutiny after suffering defeats against India, Australia, and Afghanistan, putting their World Cup 2023 campaign at risk. Babar Azam, visibly shaken in a post-match press conference, acknowledged the team’s disappointment and expressed his intention for the team to learn from this defeat. Afghanistan achieved their first-ever one-day victory over Pakistan, chasing down a 283-run target with an over to spare.

Azam, who scored 74 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 noted that while they achieved their batting objectives, they fell short in bowling and fielding, conceding 17 boundaries in the first 16 overs. He congratulated Afghanistan for their victory and emphasized the need for improvement in the upcoming matches.