Former PCB chief denies rumors of rift between Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi

Former  chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Zaka Ashraf dispelled rumors of discord between white-ball captain Babar Azam and left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi. Ashraf firmly stated that the unity within the team improved following the appointment of Shaheen Afridi as T20I captain.

In a recent interview at a local news channel, Ashraf vehemently denied any bad blood between Azam and Afridi, stating,  “No, the unity didn't end (after removing Babar Azam as captain). In fact, the unity improved. When we told him to play as a player, which is his talent, but as a captain, his performance is not good, he agreed.”

The decision to replace Azam as captain sparked intense debates about possible groupism within the squad. Critics alleged that factionalism was prevalent, which Ashraf refuted. 

His remarks also highlighted his admiration for Masood and former team director Mohammad Hafeez. He described Hafeez as "a very honest man" and recounted earlier criticisms by Hafeez regarding player support for the support staff. 

“No, there was no grouping. The team was good. And we brought Shan Masood as the captain. He was a very good captain. He is still a very good player. He is still a captain in England's counties. And I made Shaheen Shah the captain of the T20I team. That was also a very good decision,” he said.

“And our management, along with the team, Mohammad Hafeez, an excellent cricketer, a very honest person, we brought him along. Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, and these players, we brought them along so that the coaching staff is with the team,” he added.

The former PCB chief reflected on the leadership changes that have characterized Pakistan cricket, noting that such shifts are often a part of the sport's landscape. Following Pakistan’s early exit from the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, Azam was stripped of his captaincy across formats. 

Shan Masood was subsequently named the Test captain, while Shaheen Afridi took over as T20I captain. However, after a string of disappointing performances in T20I series against New Zealand, Afridi was removed, and Babar Azam was reinstated as the white-ball captain ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and the Caribbean.