Rizwan sends unity message, quashes rift rumors

Pakistan wicketkeeper batter, Mohammad Rizwan, posted a powerful message of solidarity on the social media platform to quell any rift rumors that surfaced following an alleged heated verbal altercation between skipper Babar Azam and fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Rizwan shared a team picture, grouped together closely in a circle with a national flag beside them. He captioned the picture with a poignant Urdu poem emphasizing the importance of solidarity and celebrating shared experiences. The poem can be roughly translated as follows.

"Under the shadow of this flag,
We are one. We are one.
Our joys and sorrows are shared,
We are one," Rizwan wrote on X

Is Parcham k saaye talay,
Hum aik hain. Hum aik hain.

Saanjhi apni khushyaan,
Or ghum aik hain. Hum aik hain.#PakistanZindabad 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/NWNoT2BFPZ

— Muhammad Rizwan (@iMRizwanPak) September 20, 2023

Previously, according to media reports, a heated incident unfolded during a post-match team meeting in the aftermath of Pakistan's narrow last-ball defeat to Sri Lanka in the 2023 Asia Cup. 

Reports hinted at simmering tensions within the team, where Babar expressed discontent with some senior players' performances. In response, Shaheen encouraged him to acknowledge the contributions of those who had performed well, sparking a tense exchange of words. This exchange reportedly led to Rizwan stepping in to mediate the situation.