After reports emerged of a feud between Shaheen Shah Afridi and Babar Azam, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has spoken out. Pakistan was eliminated from the Asia Cup 2023 after losing a thrilling last-ball match against Sri Lanka in the Super 4 stage. According to Pakistani media, Babar and Shaheen had an argument in the dressing room. It all started when Babar asked the players to play responsibly. Allegedly, this statement didn’t sit well with Shaheen, who asked his captain to appreciate those who were performing well. Babar allegedly replied that he knew who was performing well and who wasn’t. Wicketkeeper and batter Mohammad Rizwan intervened to calm the situation.
Shahid Afridi, who is Shaheen’s father-in-law, advised Babar to seek help from the team director and coach to improve his captaincy. He urged the seniors, including head coach Mickey Arthur, to talk to Babar and make him stronger. Afridi encouraged Babar not to fear making tough decisions and not to worry about losses, emphasizing that he should learn from them.
Afridi also revealed that during his brief tenure as chief selector at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), there were communication issues between the captain and the coach. He highlighted the importance of Babar reaching out to the senior players in the dressing room to resolve any issues. Afridi emphasized that as a captain, Babar should seek the guidance of the professionals around him and improve his captaincy skills.
In a surprising statement, Afridi mentioned that the communication was broken between the head coach and the captain during his time as chief selector at the PCB.
Pakistan does not have any more cricket assignments after the Asia Cup. They are expected to come to India by September 25 for warm-up matches before the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 begins. Unfortunately, Pakistan will likely be without Naseem Shah, who injured his bowling shoulder during the Asia Cup 2023.