Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf recently addressedrumors of a rift between Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi over thecaptaincy. Ashraf firmly denied any conflict between the two star players,emphasizing that the team’s unity remained intact even after he decided toappoint Shaheen as the T20 captain.
He explained that Babar Azam understood the decision, acknowledging thatwhile his talent as a player is undeniable, his performance as captain hadroom for improvement. According to Ashraf, Babar accepted the change andcontinued to play with the same commitment to the team.
Ashraf went on to defend his decisions regarding leadership roles withinthe team, particularly his choices of Shan Masood and Shaheen Afridi ascaptains of the Test and T20 sides, respectively. He praised Shan Masood asan excellent captain, noting his ongoing leadership in England’s countycricket. Similarly, Ashraf expressed confidence in Shaheen Shah Afridi’sability to lead the T20I team, describing the decision as a positive onefor the team’s future.
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Additionally, it is noteworthy that Pakistan’s premier batsman, Babar Azam,has recently fallen out of the top 10 in the ICC Test rankings, marking thefirst time in five years that he has not been among the elite in thiscategory.